Eminent Domain in 2015

The dust is still settling from Kelo v. New London, a 2005 Supreme Court Case allowing for expansive powers of eminent domain. A book released this year chronicles the effects of the landmark court case.

1 minute read

November 9, 2015, 12:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Jared Meyer reviews a book released this year by Ilya Somin, called The Grasping Hand: Kelo v. City of New London and the Limits of Eminent Domain. Meyer says the book gives the controversial court case "the thorough review it deserves," but also that the book "shows why people of all political persuasions should care about eminent-domain abuse."

From a practical standpoint, the book also evaluates many of the state laws "passed in Kelo’s wake to curtail government abuse of eminent domain," according to Meyer. The review provides the historical context of the case and then examines the concepts at the heart of the court case, such as public use and individual liberties. Some of Donald Trump's part brushes with eminent domain even figure into the discussion.

One of Meyer's clear purposes is to share the book's deliberate recounting of eminent domain abuses in the wake of the court case, so expect a certain ideology from both.

Thursday, November 5, 2015 in The Federalist

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