WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization, today announced that Jonathan Lovvorn will head its newly formed Animal Protection Litigation section to focus on the enforcement of animal protection laws. Lovvorn will assume his duties as vice president on January 1, 2005. The Animal Protection Litigation section is one of several new initiatives made possible by the recently announced combination of The HSUS and The Fund for Animals, and will add several additional litigators by the end of the year.
"Jonathan has shown incredible passion for and skill in litigating on behalf of animals through his work around the country with national and local animal protection organizations," said Wayne Pacelle, chief executive officer of The HSUS. "I am very pleased he will lead the charge on this front for The Humane Society of the United States."
"I look forward to working with the entire staff of The Humane Society of the United States to ensure that all animals receive the legal protections they deserve," Lovvorn said. "The Animal Protection Litigation section will be the centerpiece of that effort."
A partner with Meyer & Glitzenstein, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C. that specializes in federal and state court litigation on public interest issues, Lovvorn has won numerous victories for animals. During his tenure there, he won a groundbreaking decision on behalf of the HSUS that prevented the federal government from capturing or killing more than 200 species of migratory birds in violation of international law. Lovvorn also spearheaded the legal campaign that resulted in the rescue of the "Suarez Seven" polar bears from a traveling circus in Puerto Rico.
Other significant achievements under Lovvorn's direction include legal campaigns that resulted in the protection of California gray whales, Florida black bears, and the American bison. He also successfully defended animal protection initiatives and referenda from legal attack in California and Washington.
Lovvorn received a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, and an LL.M. in environmental law and natural resource policy from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. He has published numerous articles concerning animal protection and environmental policy, including a recent article on mute swan protection in the state of Maryland that he co-authored with The Fund for Animals president, Michael Markarian, for the University of Baltimore Journal of Environmental Law.
Lovvorn is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington University School of Law, where he co-teaches a seminar on animal law with his wife, Nancy Perry.
The Humane Society of the United States has more than eight million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has 10 regional offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
