Rage in the Monkey

Supremes Say “No” to Private Property

June 23rd, 2005

Ignoring the United States Constitution, the US Supreme Court has ruled (5-4) that local governments have the “right” to sieze private property. In the eminent domain case Kelo v. City of New London.

An overview in this Washington Post story, a CNN piece

Isn’t that special. That’s right, if some local muckity-mucks decide they want a new Target store or casino right smack dab where your property sits, they can sieze it, given that they pay you something more or less reasonable for it (of course, governments being what they are, I suspect it will tend towards the less reasonable).

Read detailed analysis at Stones Cry Out. He asks the frightening question “Does anyone know what impact, if any, this decision may have on protections afforded under the Religious and Institutionalized Persons Land Use Protection Act? Can a City now condemn a church to make way for a WalMart?” Can the government simply doze whatever they don’t want to make way for what they do want?

Institute for Justice information on Private Property rights and specifically the Kelo v. New London.

Professor Bainbridge rounds it up here.

Instapundit’s Glenn Reynolds takes it on here.

Michelle Malkin opines at her blog.

Entry Filed under: Judicial,Politics,USSC