Zoo protester wins due process claim

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Appeals Court vacated a zoo veterinarian’s harassment prevention order and its extension, finding a self-represented protester had adequately argued that her due process rights were violated when her motion to vacate the order was denied. Only one of the four alleged incidents of harassment arguably constituted harassment; the others were protected speech, not fighting words nor true threats. The lower court’s judge improperly accepted the veterinarian’s affidavit and challenged the protester to disprove the allegations, which was not her burden, and she was repeatedly shut down and wrongly told she may not make objections.Read the ruling here.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads