Five liberal Supreme Court justices joined to rule that government can force families out of their homes to make way for real estate projects by private developers. The ruling sanctions theft by big government to benefit big business.
At issue was 5th Amendment language: ??¢â???¬?????nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.??¢â???¬ In this case, New London, Conn., was seeking to condemn private homes so private developers could build a hotel, health club and offices. The question was whether New London was taking the property for ??¢â???¬?????public use??¢â???¬ ??¢â???¬"formerly interpreted to mean government projects such as building a road??¢â???¬"not taking property from one owner to give to another. Archliberal Jerry Ford appointee J.P. Stevens wrote the opinion. Clintonites Ruth Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer joined him, as did Bush senior??¢â???¬â???¢s David Souter, and Reagan appointee Anthony Kennedy. Sandra Day O??¢â???¬â???¢Connor, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice William Rehnquist dissented.
