R.I.P. Scout26
I just watched that video, and I came here to post about it. You beat me to it.It's an encouraging decision. I wonder if the state of North Carolina (or the police department involved) will appeal to the Supreme Court. IMHO, it's shocking that the Supreme Court could ever have even indirectly approved the concept of civil asset forfeiture in the absence of a criminal conviction. It makes a mockery out of the constitutional principle of innocent until proven guilty.
I hope they do appeal to SCOTUS. The Thomas/Gorsuch/Alito/Barrett/Kavanaugh wing will likely rule that forfeiture requires a conviction.
. . . I’m surprised there haven’t been leo's participating in these things swinging from lampposts . . .
Iirc, the liberal Michigan Supreme Court a few years ago ruled CAF Constitutional based on some high seas maritime practice in the 1700s.