Jordan Halliday
Encyclopedia
Jordan Cade Halliday is an American animal rights
activist. He was indicted by a federal grand jury
in 2009 on charges related to resisting a federal grand jury investigating local illegal animal rights activities, mainly concerning fur farm raids in Utah. He was jailed for nearly four months under a contempt of court order to compel him to testify. He was later released and indicted on criminal contempt of court. He pled guilty to "Criminal Contempt of Court" on July 27, 2010. The charge is a unique one in that it is sui generis
, meaning it is neither a felony nor a misdemeanor. He was sentenced on November 3, 2010 to 10 months in prison with 3 years of probation upon release. He is currently appealing this sentence.
. According to testimony by his mother he became vegan at age 12. Halliday decided to go vegetarian when he witnessed a cow give birth to a calf which was named after him. The calf later was sold presumably for veal or rodeo entertainment. When eating steak one night with his family, they joked they could be eating "Jordan", so Halliday pushed his plate away and has refused to eat meat ever since. During High School, Halliday formed SLARP (Salt Lake Animal Rights Project) which was a school club dealing with Animal Rights issues in Salt Lake. Later in life he formed the Salt Lake Chapter of the Animal Defense League
known as ADLSLC.
. The grand jury was thought to be investigating recent mink releases by the Animal Liberation Front
, which Halliday claims to support but isn't affiliated. Others feel it is a modern day witch hunt to gather information on the local Animal Rights community. Halliday's Support Committee claims that the grand jury was allegedly formed to investigate the mink raids, but the questions asked went far beyond the inquests into criminal activity. Halliday allegedly used a form of Civil disobedience
to resist the federal grand jury. He was found to be in civil
contempt of court
by order of a judge. He was incarcerated for nearly four months, after which he was let out and charged with criminal contempt of court
. He pled guilty to "criminal contempt" on July 27, 2010. He was sentenced on November 3, 2010 to 10 months in prison and 3 years probation upon release. He is currently appealing his sentence.
. His other charge of "Wearing a mask with the intent to commit a crime" was dropped after the jury failed to reach a verdict. He was found Not Guilty upon appeal.
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activist. He was indicted by a federal grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
in 2009 on charges related to resisting a federal grand jury investigating local illegal animal rights activities, mainly concerning fur farm raids in Utah. He was jailed for nearly four months under a contempt of court order to compel him to testify. He was later released and indicted on criminal contempt of court. He pled guilty to "Criminal Contempt of Court" on July 27, 2010. The charge is a unique one in that it is sui generis
Sui generis
Sui generis is a Latin expression, literally meaning of its own kind/genus or unique in its characteristics. The expression is often used in analytic philosophy to indicate an idea, an entity, or a reality which cannot be included in a wider concept....
, meaning it is neither a felony nor a misdemeanor. He was sentenced on November 3, 2010 to 10 months in prison with 3 years of probation upon release. He is currently appealing this sentence.
Early life
Halliday was raised in West Jordan, Utah, where he graduated from Copper Hills High SchoolCopper Hills High School
Copper Hills High School is located in West Jordan, Utah, situated just east of the Oquirrh Mountains in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley near the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine. This modern educational facility opened its doors in the fall of 1995 and has an enrollement of 2,290.The school...
. According to testimony by his mother he became vegan at age 12. Halliday decided to go vegetarian when he witnessed a cow give birth to a calf which was named after him. The calf later was sold presumably for veal or rodeo entertainment. When eating steak one night with his family, they joked they could be eating "Jordan", so Halliday pushed his plate away and has refused to eat meat ever since. During High School, Halliday formed SLARP (Salt Lake Animal Rights Project) which was a school club dealing with Animal Rights issues in Salt Lake. Later in life he formed the Salt Lake Chapter of the Animal Defense League
Animal Defense League
The Animal Defense League is an internationally active grassroots animal rights organization fighting to put an end to animal exploitation and abuse...
known as ADLSLC.
Grand jury
Halliday was subpoenaed to testify before the Federal Grand Jury in Feb. 2009, in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. The grand jury was thought to be investigating recent mink releases by the Animal Liberation Front
Animal Liberation Front
The Animal Liberation Front is an international, underground leaderless resistance that engages in illegal direct action in pursuit of animal liberation...
, which Halliday claims to support but isn't affiliated. Others feel it is a modern day witch hunt to gather information on the local Animal Rights community. Halliday's Support Committee claims that the grand jury was allegedly formed to investigate the mink raids, but the questions asked went far beyond the inquests into criminal activity. Halliday allegedly used a form of Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
to resist the federal grand jury. He was found to be in civil
Civil law (common law)
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim...
contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
by order of a judge. He was incarcerated for nearly four months, after which he was let out and charged with criminal contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
. He pled guilty to "criminal contempt" on July 27, 2010. He was sentenced on November 3, 2010 to 10 months in prison and 3 years probation upon release. He is currently appealing his sentence.
Targeted residential picketing
Halliday was convicted of targeted residential picketing on December 1, 2009. This charge arose from a 2008 protest in the neighborhood of an animal researcherAnimal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
. His other charge of "Wearing a mask with the intent to commit a crime" was dropped after the jury failed to reach a verdict. He was found Not Guilty upon appeal.