The U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief recommending that the Supreme Court not hear the lawsuit the state of Missouri filed against California. The subject of the lawsuit is California’s laws requiring larger enclosures for egg-laying hens and other animals.
The industry website Meating Place Dot Com says the Department’s position could be a big benefit to animal rights groups and activists who are pushing for similar laws in other states. Missouri officials said in spite of the recommendations, they’ll be pushing ahead with their lawsuit against California.
Missouri joined a dozen other states in filing the complaint last year. They argue that California’s laws, which were implemented in 2015, make interstate commerce much more difficult, which in turn drives up egg prices.
In its brief, the Department of Justice says egg prices are determined “by a series of market factors.” Because of that, the Justice Department contends that the plaintiffs’ argument that California laws are raising egg prices in other states is not reasonable.
