Animal Trials in Early Modern Europe

History

Coming across this again brings back the 2019 discussion on the Great Emu War. That ended in a decisive victory for the birds, whereas these animals had a much harder time in court. Between the 13th and 18th centuries, European courts held formal trials for animals. This included everything from murderous sows to pest infestations. The courts did not just wing it; they provided actual legal representation. There is something uniquely dry about the idea of a defense attorney filing motions on behalf of a pig accused of killing a child. It is a fantastic rabbit hole. See the page on Animal trials for the details. It would be worth linking this to the broader history of European jurisprudence or perhaps the concept of legal personhood.

Source

When Europe put pigs and rats on trial