No habeas corpus rights for chimpanzees

Another U.S. appellate court has ruled that chimpanzees are not “persons” under the law and have no right to the benefits of a writ of habeas corpus to bring their legal claims before a court.  The Court of Appeals of Michigan has affirmed a trial court decision denying petitions brought by the nonprofit Nonhuman Rights Project on behalf of seven chimps owned by a “roadside” zoo open on weekends on the Upper Peninsula of the state.