ABSTRACT
Inside the courtroom, the judge is typically seated on a raised platform facing the attorneys and the litigants. Grand juries meet in closed and confidential sessions, where defendants and defense attorneys are not permitted to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. Because few attorneys practice law in the area of animal issues, it is not unusual for veterinarians and other animal professionals to teach attorneys about what laws are applicable to a given set of facts. Attorneys unfamiliar with animal statutes and regulations should welcome instruction from nonattorneys who are familiar with such laws, but if the time comes to present a case in court, the lawyer should be relied upon for the proper presentation of the testimony. Regardless of a person's role in an animal cruelty investigation, knowledge of the judicial system is of major importance. Animal cruelty laws are most frequently found on the books of state statutes, and these laws may differ significantly from state to state.
