Articles by Tommi E. Powell, Former Senior Staff Writer

About Tommi E. Powell, Former Senior Staff Writer (8 Articles)

Tommi graduated from Campbell Law School in 2013 and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004 and a Master of Arts in English with a multicultural concentration from East Carolina University in 2006. Prior to attending law school, Tommi worked for the American Kennel Club, where an interest in animal law developed. She worked as an extern for the Water and Land Section of the Environmental Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice.

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Department of Justice Issues Eagle Feather Policy

November 20, 2012

By: Tommi E. Powell with Angelica Chavis On October 12, 2012, the United States Department of Justice issued an internal policy memo concerning the use and possession of protected birds and bird parts by Native Americans. The memo sought to bring enforcement of the use and possession in line with the Morton Policy. The memo includes all birds protected under current federal laws, including the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the Lacey Act, the [...]

Attack on the Big Top

October 16, 2012

On July 8, 2012, United States District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan issued an 87-page opinion giving Feld Entertainment Inc. (“FEI”), the parent company of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (“Circus”) the green light to continue with its complaint against various animal rights activists groups, including the Humane Society of the United States (“HSUS”). The lawsuit stems from a previous lawsuit in which these groups brought an action against FEI. The previous lawsuits [...]

The ABA Responds to Canine Profiling

September 4, 2012

On June 11, the Campbell Law Observer published my article, “The Problem with Breedism.” As the owner of a bully breed mix, I had a clear bias in writing that article and I offer no apologies for my stance. Now, a few months later, I offer an update on the issue of breed specific legislation (“BSL”) in the United States. It pleases me greatly to be able to say that the American Bar Association (“ABA”) resolved the following at their August 2012 meeting: RESOLVED, That the [...]

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS – OH MY!: Exotic Animal Laws

August 6, 2012

Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved. – Jane Goodall On October 18, 2011, a mentally unstable man released 56 exotic animals from his private collection into his rural community before he committed suicide. Panic ensued as residents of Zanesville, Ohio watched their town become a scene from Jumanji. Lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, primates, and bears took to the streets, and open season was announced as [...]

Let Them Eat Cake Liver: The California ban on foie gras

July 2, 2012

In 2004, the California legislature passed a bill, SB 1520, making California the first state to ban the force-feeding of birds. Force-feeding is a process wherein a bird, usually a duck or goose, is forced to consume more food for the purpose of enlarging its liver. This enlarged liver becomes foie gras, a rather expensive delicacy. The bill not only bans the act of force feeding for the purpose of enlarging the liver, the bill also bans the selling of foie gras produced by ~~Cake~~ Liver: The California ban on foie gras">[...]

The Problem with Breedism

June 11, 2012

American Staffordshire Terrier. Chow Chow. German Shepherd. Doberman Pinscher. Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Bulldog. Akita. Boxer. Chinese Shar-Pei. Mastiff. Great Dane. Rottweiler. Siberian Husky. Pit Bull. These are only some of the breeds affected by Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) throughout the United States. Defined as a statute or regulation directed toward one or more specific breeds, BSL is an ugly term that strikes fear in the hearts and minds of [...]

Regulation of Commercial Breeders: Timely & Needed or Unnecessary & Burdensome?

April 17, 2012

In 2009, North Carolina Senate Bill 460 (SB 460), sponsored by Senator Don Davis, made its first appearance in the state legislative session. The so-called “puppy-mill bill” sought to define and regulate commercial breeders within the state. The bill would have defined a commercial breeder as “any person who owns or maintains 15 or more intact female dogs of breeding age, and 30 or more puppies primarily for the purpose of sale.” Regulation of the practice would have occurred [...]

Ousting a District Attorney: What Happened to Tracey Cline

April 10, 2012

On March 2, 2012, Durham District Attorney Tracey Cline was removed from office. A portion of Judge Robert Hobgood’s order removing Cline read as follows: “Tracey E. Cline has lost the confidence of the attorneys and the public necessary to continue as an effective District Attorney for Durham County . . . By recklessly making blatantly false allegations against Judge Hudson in public record totally lacking in factual support, attacking his morality, honesty and asserting that he is [...]