Overview
- The Supreme Court agreed to take Jouppi v. Alaska on Monday, setting up review of whether a state can forfeit a plane after the pilot was convicted of a misdemeanor for transporting beer to a dry village.
- State troopers executed a warrant after finding a six-pack on board and Alaska courts upheld forfeiture on the ground the pilot knew a passenger had alcohol and state law allows seizing aircraft used to import alcohol into dry communities.
- Kenneth Jouppi, an 82-year-old bush pilot represented by the Institute for Justice, argues that losing his $95,000 Cessna for a six-pack is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment.
- Alaska tells the court its forfeiture rules respond to unique enforcement problems in remote villages reachable mainly by air and points to high rates of alcohol-related harm in rural communities.
- A ruling for Jouppi could limit state and local forfeiture powers nationwide and a decision is likely after oral argument expected late this year or early next year.