Miscellaneous

Earth Day Special

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Everybody wants in on the Earth Day act. Google creates special holiday-themed logos each year. Our second-grader imposed Screen Turnoff Week on the household (we asked for a blogging waiver, so as not to disappoint readers). Even Disney, god of consumerism, is launching a new nature film label. (Let's hope it has fewer errors than Disney's Pocahontas -- where, pray tell, is that cliff from whence she dives? And what's this about *marrying* John Smith?)

So it's the time of year to think about environmental courts.

They're not as tree-huggy as they sound. Most are dockets in which environmental crimes are prosecuted. They're less Silkwood, more The Super.

In Franklin County, Ohio, for example, the environmental court is housed in the municipal court. Case types are frequently related to violations of the state's environmental protection act, quality-of-life crimes such as vandalism, zoning, and housing.

Vermont's environmental court hears appeals from municipal boards and commissions, agency appeals, and municipal enforcement cases. It offers environmental mediation coordinated by the state bar.

Keep American Beautiful (KAB) had a hand in encouraging citizens to lobby for environmental courts. KAB provides a toolkit for interested parties. The toolkit lists community benefits, a checklist of action steps, a longer planning guide and video, model legislation, and more.

Now, go recycle a can or something!

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on April 22, 2008 (boomark / email).