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I agree with you 100%, but as I understand it they use smoke and mirrors and charge the property. Property doesn't have the same rights as people (it's an old English common law concept, IIRC). And, as I also understand it, the SC has signed off on this Constitutional end run.What I don't understand is how has this not been challenged at SCOTUS as this is clearly unConstitutional.
It 100% violates the 5th Amendment:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
I agree with you 100%, but as I understand it they use smoke and mirrors and charge the property. Property doesn't have the same rights as people (it's an old English common law concept, IIRC). And, as I also understand it, the SC has signed off on this Constitutional end run.
SCOTUS has made a number of rulings on the validity of asset forfeiture:
•The Palmyra, 25 U.S. (12 Wheat) 1 (1827). An early case in which the Supreme Court applies an in rem theory to seize property without a criminal conviction of the owner.
•One 1958 Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania, 380 U.S. 693 (1965). The Exclusionary Rule applies to block evidence obtained illegally in forfeiture cases, providing a Fourth Amendment limitation on forfeiture procedure.
•Calero Toledo v. Pearson Yacht Leasing Co., 416 U.S. 663 (1974). The Supreme Court finds that Due Process does not require pre-seizure notice or hearing, and that the innocence of the owner is not a general defense.
•Austin v. U.S., 506 U.S. 602 (1993). On the facts of the case, in rem forfeiture of real property is punitive and violates the Eighth Amendment Excessive Fines clause.
•U.S. v. James Daniel Good Real Property, 510 U.S. 43 (1993). Both the Fourth and Fifth Amendment limit the actions of the government in forfeiture proceedings, providing owners with notice and other Due Process protections.
•Bennis v. Michigan, 517 U.S. 1163 (1996). The Court holds that forfeiture is not a taking under the Fourteenth Amendment and continues to confirm the lack of "innocent owner" defense.
•U.S. v. Ursery, 518 U.S. 267 (1996). A civil in rem forfeiture proceeding following a criminal conviction is not punitive, and therefore does not violate the Fifth Amendment Double Jeopardy clause.
•U.S. v. Bajakajian, 524 U.S. 321 (1998). On the facts of the case, an in rem forfeiture of cash violates the Eighth Amendment Excessive Fines clause due to lack of proportionality with the conduct authorizing forfeiture.
It doesn't matter which side of the bench, conservative or liberal, they voted for it.
It is a travesty, but unfortunately founded on a lot of case law.
It is highly unlikely they will change. The change has to come from Congress.
What I don't understand is how has this not been challenged at SCOTUS as this is clearly unConstitutional.
It 100% violates the 5th Amendment:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
I despise civil forfeiture, and thankfully pretrial asset freezes have been done away with, but simply citing the 5th doesn't answer it. What "process" is "due" is not defined and depends on the circumstances, so the courts have had tons of wiggle room to make up what process is due.
the official and proper way of doing things in a legal case : the rule that a legal case must be done in a way that protects the rights of all the people involved
Full Definition of due process
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: a course of formal proceedings (as legal proceedings) carried out regularly and in accordance with established rules and principles —called also procedural due process
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: a judicial requirement that enacted laws may not contain provisions that result in the unfair, arbitrary, or unreasonable treatment of an individual —called also substantive due process