National Pork Producers v. Ross Oral Argument

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in National Pork Producers v. Ross, a case on whether California’s law banning pork products from farmers where the animals were housed in tight enclosures violates the Constitution’s commerce clause. The case stemmed from California’s Proposition 12 that aimed to prevent animal cruelty, setting standards for porcine living conditions and banning sales of pork not meeting that criteria. The council filed suit accusing California of regulating out-of-state pork production for the entire nation thereby violating the commerce clause. The council said most pork production happens in other states, with very few farms meeting California’s standards. They further argued the law places financial burden on farmers to upgrade their facilities which would translate into higher prices for consumers. California argued the law only applied to in-state sales.

In May 2023, the Court in a 5-4 decision upheld California’s animal-welfare law. close