The South Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week on whether the state’s civil forfeiture laws violated citizens’ constitutional rights.
Last year, the Court of Common Pleas for the 15th Judicial Circuit evaluated South Carolina’s civil forfeiture statutes and ruled that they are unconstitutional because they violate citizens’ rights to due process and freedom from excessive fines. That ruling was appealed by prosecutors to the South Carolina Supreme Court, and the appeals hearing was scheduled for January 13, 2021.