[JURIST] Britain's House of Lords on Thursday upheld [judgment] legislation which makes hunting wild mammals with dogs throughout England and Wales a criminal offense. The 1949 Parliament Act [BBC backgrounder] was used late last year to push the Hunting Act 2004 [text] through a recalcitrant House of Lords and the Countryside Alliance [advocacy website] challenged [JURIST report] the ban, calling it unconstitutional. The case was heard before nine of the twelve law lords instead of the usual five because of the constitutional significance of the issue; all nine voted in favor of the ban. The chairman for the League Against Cruel Sports [advocacy website] called the ruling a "triumph for democracy." The legislation bans hunting wild animals with packs of dogs, but still allows hounds to chase scent trails and flush out foxes to be shot. The Countryside Alliance has vowed to continue fighting the hunting law [CA press release] and also has an appeal pending based on European human rights legislation. BBC News has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Fox hunters mount constitutional challenge in British high court
• British fox hunters test new law on first day of ban
• UK appeals court rejects challenge to fox hunting ban
• UK High Court upholds hunting ban, Parliament Act
• Legal challenge may delay UK hunting ban
• UK pro-hunting groups challenge Parliament Act
• UK Commons forces hunt ban through despite Lords opposition