Supreme Court Rejects Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Says States Cannot Keep Money From The Innocent
5th May 2017
With so many constitutional rights under siege, it’s welcome news when one of them is defended. Reaffirming the presumption of innocence, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Colorado law last month that forced criminal defendants to prove their innocence when the defendants’ convictions were already overturned. As the court explained, “Absent those convictions, Colorado would have no legal right to exact and retain petitioners’ funds.” Not only is this decision a win for due process, the court’s ruling in Nelson v. Colorado could have major ramifications for government shakedown schemes nationwide.
This is a huge step forward in the fight against Civil Asset Forfeiture.
May 5th, 2017 at 21:27
Hear, hear!!
May 5th, 2017 at 21:32
(Need I point out that the big impetus for asset forfeiture originated with the Crime Control Act of 1984, signed into law by St. Ronald Reagan? Gotta love those “tough on crime” Republicans…)