An article recently published in The New York Times Magazine brought national attention to the
Nonhuman Rights Project, an organization led by legal scholar Steven M. Wise. Currently, Wise is fighting legal battles for four captive chimpanzees in New York. After a decision by Fulton County Supreme Court earlier this year, Wise appealed and is advocating that Tommy, a Chimpanzee being kept in Gloversville, New York, should be recognized as a legal person through common law, and therefore protected under the writ of habeas corpus.
WAMC's Lucas Willard spoke with Dr. Laurie Shanks, a clinical professor of law at Albany Law school, who offered her opinions on the case
.