Judge ruled Pennsylvania can’t control what citizens in other states purchase
Amos Miller, an Amish farmer in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, will be allowed to sell his raw milk products out-of-state following a ruling this week by Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle.
Attorney and podcast host Robert Barnes, who represents Miller in the case, labeled the decision a “major win” for the farmer.
“Court agreed to modify injunction so that it only applies within the state of Pennsylvania removing the ban on sales to customers outside state,” he wrote, thanking Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for their support.
The Kentucky congressman responded on X, writing, “Congrats! A small win, but a win nonetheless for Amos Miller . Why is the government is spending resources prosecuting an Amish farmer who sells to willing buyers when we have so many real problems at the moment? We should empower small farmers instead of prosecuting them.”
Covering the judge’s decision, Fox 43 wrote:
“In the first of two orders issued Monday, Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle denied the request from attorneys representing Upper Leacock farmer Amos Miller to dismiss the state’s lawsuit against him. The lawsuit was filed in January after the officials found Miller does not have a permit to sell raw milk and has not registered his business with the state. The inspection was prompted by two illnesses in Michigan and New York that were traced to Miller’s products.”
After Barnes argued a court order banning Miller from selling raw milk products anywhere equated to Pennsylvania governing trade in other states, Judge Sponaugle modified the order to allow the farmer to sell his items only to other states.
“With the modification in place, it appears as though Miller will be able to sell his products out-of-state, though federal law requires that milk shipped between states must be pasteurized, and Miller is already limited by a detaining order placed on his products earlier this year by the Department of Agriculture,” Fox 43 explained.
Miller and Barnes have just under three weeks to respond to the Department of Agriculture lawsuit.
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