Dear John,

Right now, Senior Staff Attorney at the NhRP, Monica Miller, is deep in preparation for a case that could make legal history. In the coming months, we’ll stand before the Michigan Court of Appeals to argue for the freedom of seven chimpanzees held captive at the DeYoung Family Zoo in Wallace, Michigan.

In a behind-the-scenes look at her preparations for this hearing, Monica shares her thoughts on the case, including what brings her a sense of hope, what makes this case unique, and why we’re litigating for chimpanzee rights in Michigan:

“As I prepare to argue our case before top judges in Michigan—reviewing every detail of the case law and practicing for the kinds of questions the Court might throw at me—one of the things that I want to emphasize above all else is what science teaches us about chimpanzees. They form deep social bonds, experience joy and grief, and they have learned to communicate with us and other chimpanzees using sign language. Years ago, a chimpanzee named Washoe literally signed the words “key out.” He was asking for his freedom. Think about that for a second. If a chimpanzee can quite literally ask for their freedom, shouldn’t they have access to it?”