Supreme Court Votes 6–3 to Allow State to Keep Innocent Owners’ Cars Used in Drug Crimes

2 women had filed class action lawsuits against civil asset forfeiture policies in Alabama. The Supreme Court voted 6–3 on May 9 to uphold the forfeiture of two Alabama women’s cars that were used to commit drug offenses, finding the U.S. Constitution does not require a separate hearing to determine whether the police may retain the car before the forfeiture hearing. The three liberal justices dissented, saying the majority’s ruling prevents lower courts from “addressing myriad abuses of the civil forfeiture system.” The case involves civil asset forfeiture (CAF), which...