National Meat Association v. Harris

Holding: The Federal Meat Inspection Act expressly preempts a California law regulating the treatment of non-ambulatory pigs at federal­ly inspected slaughterhouses.

Plain English Holding: A California law regulating the treatment of livestock that cannot walk (and which requires, for example, that such animals be euthanized immediately and not used for food) is invalid because it is trumped, or “preempted,” by a federal law regulating the treatment of livestock at slaughterhouses.

Judgment: Reversed, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Kagan on January 23, 2012.

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs for the Petitioner

• Brief for National Meat Association
• Reply brief for National Meat Association

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Petitioner

• Brief for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians et al. in Support of Petitioner and for the Reveral of the Ninth Circuit’s Judgement
• Brief for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief of the United States of American in Support of Petitioner

Merits Briefs for the Respondents

• Brief for the Humane Society of the United States et al.
• Brief for Kamala D.  Harris

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Respondents

• Brief for Illinois et al.
• Brief for Public Citizen
• Brief for the ASPCA
• Brief for Tim Blackwell, D.V.M. and Kristie Mozzachio, D.V.M. 
• Brief for Professors of Preemption Law

Certiorari-stage documents

• Opinion below (9th Circuit)
• Petitioner's reply

• Petition for ceriorari
• Brief in opposition for non-government respondents 
• Brief in opposition for government respondents 
• Reply brief
• Petitioners’ supplemental brief