Eminent Domain Goes To Court

"For more than four years, a 90-acre patch of land in New London, Connecticut, has occupied center stage in the city's — and the nation's — most momentous battle over eminent domain. The decision in Kelo v. City of New London, now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, could affect government-authorized economic development projects for years to come. A decision is expected by the end of June.

At issue is whether public bodies or their agents can use the power of eminent domain to carry out economic development, as the city of New London wants to do. No one questions that governments can take privately owned properties to build a road, construct a school, or foster some other public use. The nine Kelo plaintiffs say, however, that it is unconstitutional to seize properties with the aim of converting them to private uses, even if those uses are intended to generate jobs and boost local tax revenue."