Austin v. United States

Austin v. United States, 509 U.S. 602 (1993), was an Supreme Court case in 1993 where the Supreme Court decided that the Eighth Amendment includes the government seizing property as punishment.

Austin v. United States
Seal of the United States Supreme Court.svg
Argued April 20, 1993
Decided June 28, 1993
Full case nameAustin v. United States
Docket nos.[[[:Template:SCOTUS URL Docket]] 92-6073]
Citations509 U.S. 602 (more)
113 S. Ct. 2801; 125 L. Ed. 2d 488
Prior historyUnited States v. One Parcel of Prop. Located at 508 Depot St., 964 F.2d 814 (8th Cir. 1992); cert. granted, 506 U.S. 1074 (1993).
Holding
Forfeiture under §§881(a)(4) and (a)(7) is a monetary punishment and, as such, is subject to the limitations of the Excessive Fines Clause.
Court membership
Case opinions
MajorityBlackmun, joined by White, Stevens, O’Connor, Souter
ConcurrenceScalia
ConcurrenceKennedy, joined by Rehnquist, Thomas

Details

Richard Lyle Austin was accused of violating the drug laws of South Dakota. He admitted to having cocaine and wanting to give it to others. The United States told him to turn over his car shop. Austin said that the government doing that was a violation of the part of the 8th Amendment that says fines can't be too much. Austin won the case.