The Command Post - Politics & Elections - SCOTUS rules cities may take private property for private use

June 23, 2005

United States | SCOTUS rules cities may take private property for private use

via the AP:

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that local governments may seize people’s homes and businesses — even against their will — for private economic development.
It was a decision fraught with huge implications for a country with many areas, particularly the rapidly growing urban and suburban areas, facing countervailing pressures of development and property ownership rights.
The 5-4 ruling represented a defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas.

The opinions in Kelo, et. al. v. New London are here.

I have more thoughts here.

Posted by Bryan M at June 23, 2005 11:53 AM | TrackBack

Comments

I'm with Thomas & O'Connor on this one.

The majority had a point, but it's still another slip down the slope.

Posted by: A Vet at June 23, 2005 02:39 PM

This is a natural corrollary to the rest of the liberal justices' rulings. If you can find rights that are not supported by the language of the Constitution, then you can surely eliminate rights or ignore restrictions that are explicitly enumerated in the Constitution.

Between the medical marijuana ruling, this case, and the utter lack of true electoral accountability to members of Congress, it is hard to see how we claim to live in a representative democracy any more. A president wins with the most votes in our history, but he cannot get his nominees confirmed because our esteemed Senators would rather protect their Senatorial priveleges than do the people's business. And there is not a damned thing that we can do about it. It's getting hard to give a shit anymore.

Posted by: TL at June 23, 2005 05:54 PM

Good God!! What a bunch of crap--we've got to elect some people with the balls to snuff the court system--we have no democracy left at all--and we are trying to impose our system on Iraq?--I am going back to bed I am depressed.

Posted by: bob the good at June 24, 2005 09:40 AM

...and we are trying to impose our system on Iraq?

Actually, no... we are not. That's just another lie that the Anti-Bush crowd is hoping will stick if they say it enough times.

Posted by: A Vet at June 27, 2005 02:34 PM

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