Supreme Court Justices warn of rights abuses in Chicago vehicle seizures

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch have issued a joint statement expressing concern over a Chicago vehicle forfeiture scheme after the Supreme Court declined to review the case. The policy allows the city to seize and sell vehicles belonging to drivers with as few as two unpaid parking tickets without providing compensation to the owners.

In the case of O’Donnell v. City of Chicago, the justices agreed with the court's decision not to grant review at this time, but Sotomayor noted that the Seventh Circuit’s decision to uphold the policy as a valid exercise of police power raised serious constitutional questions. She cautioned that deference to state police powers should not eclipse Fifth Amendment protections against taking private property for public use without just compensation.

Sotomayor suggested that while the current case may not be the ideal vehicle for a constitutional ruling due to the scope of the ordinance being challenged, the issue warrants future attention as more appellate courts weigh in.