[JURIST] A UK Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed [opinion text] a case arguing that Britain's ban on fox hunting with dogs infringed on human rights. The Countryside Alliance [advocacy website] challenged a Hunting Act 2004 [text], saying it was unnecessary for a democratic society and that it violates human rights that protect the right to private and family life, peaceful assembly and the freedom of association. Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of Rolls, rejected Countryside's argument without considering whether a right had been infringed, calling it a "legitimate and proportionate" exercise of government power.

Countryside has mounted several challenges to the law seeking to overturn it. Last year, Countryside lost [JURIST report] another challenge questioning the legality of the 1949 Parliament Act [BBC backgrounder] that the House of Lords used to push the Hunting Act through the legislature. Reuters has more. The Times has local coverage.