Supreme Court Limits Power to Seize Property

Washington Post: “The court on Wednesday ruled in favor of Tyson Timbs of Marion, Ind., whose $42,000 Land Rover SUV was seized after his arrest for selling a couple hundred dollars’ worth of heroin. Timbs drew wide support from civil liberties organizations that want to limit civil forfeitures, which they say empower localities and law enforcement to seize property of someone suspected of a crime as a revenue stream.”

“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the court, agreeing with Timbs that the Eighth Amendment’s excessive fines clause applies to state and local governments.”