Judicial Activism Strikes Again
Supreme Court Rules Government can seize your home

ALEXANDRIA , VA –- The American Conservative Union, the nation's oldest and largest Conservative grass roots organization, sharply condemned today's highly controversial 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that local governments may use eminent domain to take people's homes and businesses and turn them over to private developers.

The case, titled Kelo et al v. City of New London, was brought by homeowners in New London, Connecticut where officials plan to tear down a neighborhood community near the Thames river to make way for an office complex. City planners, backed by the liberal National League of Cities, argued that throwing the homeowners off their property would create jobs and generate more tax revenue for the city. Many of the affected citizens have deep roots in their community, including a married couple in their 80s who have lived in the same home for more than 50 years.

"It is outrageous to think that the government can take away your home any time it wants to build a shopping mall,” said ACU Chairman David Keene. "Today's Supreme Court ruling is a slap in the face to property owners everywhere."

The Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm committed to protecting property rights, estimates that over 10,000 homes nationwide are in danger of being destroyed by aggressive local governments. The Kelo ruling sets a precedent that officials may proceed with their plans to seize the homes of private citizens to foster whatever they conceive to be the “common good” and generate more tax income to fuel big government spending programs.

 "Liberal, activist judges will continue to violate the rights of individuals in favor of big government and special interests,” continued Keene. “"To help protect property rights, Americans must push for a fair, originalist judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court when the next vacancy arises."