Judge denies anti's plea to reconsider Argali sheep case (10/31/2003)

A federal court judge has shot down a request by a national anti-hunting organization, the Fund for Animals, to reconsider a precedent-setting court decision. The ruling had established that wildlife professionals, not the courts, should be responsible to make wildlife management decisions.

On October 30, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia refused to reconsider it's ruling on a case that clarifies the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's authority in the issuance of trophy permits for argali sheep. Argali are Asian sheep sought by big game hunters.

In July, U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler decided in favor of the Sportsmen's Legal Defense Fund (SLDF), the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation's legal arm, in the case. She ruled that the anti's did not have standing, which means they failed to substantiate their claim that a ruling in their favor would have any impact on argali sheep populations or sheep hunting.

The lawsuit began over two years ago when anti-hunting groups attempted to create an outright ban on all argali imports to the United States. The anti's argued that sustainable populations of sheep could not be maintained if Americans were permitted to continue hunting, and that the involved governments did not complete certain certifications regarding the argali population.

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