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How can we stop government from abusing the power to take away its citizens’ private property?

Hosts
Trevor Burrus
Research Fellow, Constitutional Studies
Aaron Ross Powell
Director and Editor
Guests

Scott Bullock is a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice. His work focuses on property rights and economic liberty cases in federal and state courts.

This week Scott Bullock joins us to talk about eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, and a few very important legal cases brought by the Institute for Justice.

What is eminent domain? Can the government use eminent domain for “economic development”? Who is Susette Kelo, and why is her case special?

What is civil asset forfeiture? Why do police get to keep the proceeds from forfeiture? How can we reform forfeiture laws to incentive police to do the right thing?

Show Notes and Further Reading

Kelo vs. City of New London (Wikipedia page)

Jeff Benedict, Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage (book)

Forfeiture Abuse: Even Your Drums Aren’t Safe From the Police (video)

Federal & Local Law Enforcement Agents Try to Take Family Motel from Innocent Owners (video)

Scott Bullock, Marian Williams, Jefferson Holcomb, Tomislav Kavandzic, “Policing for Profit: The Abuse of Civil Asset Forfeiture” (report)