The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could potentially upend the practice of asset forfeiture, a long-standing concern of civil libertarians.
The case centers around Kenneth Jouppi, an 82-year-old Alaskan man who was operating a one-man air taxi service using his personally-owned 1969 Cessna plane in 2012 when Alaska state troopers executed a search warrant and found a six-pack of beer on board.
Jouppi was convicted of alcohol importation, a misdemeanor, after being found with the beer in a village that had banned the possession or sale of alcohol within its limits.
The state subsequently confiscated Jouppi's plane, valued at $95,000, citing the alcohol importation ban.
Jouppi has argued in court that the state's seizure of his plane runs afoul of the 8th Amendment's ban on excessive fines.
The Supreme Court's decision on Jouppi's case will have significant implications for the ability of state and local governments to impose asset forfeiture.
Some argue that confiscating the planes of those who facilitate illegal imports is the only way to prevent the problems caused by alcoholism in remote regions.
However, others contend that such actions go too far and risk diluting constitutional protections afforded to everyday people.
The Supreme Court will have the opportunity to weigh in on whether Jouppi is right to challenge the state's seizure of his plane, potentially setting a precedent that could rein in the practice of asset forfeiture.
Oral arguments in Jouppi's case are likely to take place later this year or early next year, with a decision expected to come down by next summer.
