Dawson v. Steager
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Dawson v. Steager 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 Dawson v. Steager.
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. This decision emphasizes the historical and logical basis for incorporating the Excessive Fines Clause, which has been a consistent protection throughout Anglo-American history. The Court rejected Indiana's argument that the Clause does not apply to civil in rem forfeitures.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Dawson v. Steager.
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 Dawson v. Steager. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Excessive Fines is relevant to Dawson v. Steager
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 Dawson v. Steager
The Court discusses the incorporation of the Excessive Fines Clause through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause, which involves substantive due process analysis.
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 Dawson v. Steager 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.
