Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. The case involved the civil forfeiture of a vehicle in Indiana, which was deemed disproportionate to the offense. The Court emphasized the historical significance of protection against excessive fines as fundamental to liberty.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP.
The Court held that the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is an incorporated protection applicable to the States under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Excessive Fines is relevant to Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP
The case directly addresses whether the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is applicable to the states through incorporation by the Fourteenth Amendment.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Held: The Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is an incorporated protection applicable to the States under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
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Why Substantive Due Process is relevant to Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP
The case involves the incorporation of a Bill of Rights protection against the states, which is a substantive due process issue.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause incorporates and renders applicable to the States Bill of Rights protections 'fundamental to our scheme of ordered liberty,' or 'deeply rooted in this Nation's history and tradition.'
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus LLP that support the summary and concepts above.
The Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause is an incorporated protection applicable to the States.
Protection against excessive fines has been a constant shield throughout Anglo-American history.
The historical and logical case for concluding that the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Excessive Fines Clause is indeed overwhelming.
