Decision a victory against states imposing excessive fines, seizure of property Ben Warren | Infowars.com - FEBRUARY 20, 2019 IMAGE CREDITS: MANDEL NGAN / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTY . The Supreme Court unanimously curbed the power of local governments to seize private property. The nation’s highest court invoked the Constitution’s prohibition on excessive fines in Wednesday’s 9-0 decision, according to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s majority opinion. “Protection against excessive fines has been a constant shield throughout Anglo-American history for good reason: Such fines undermine other liberties,” said Ginsburg. “They can be used, e.g., to retaliate against or chill the speech of political enemies.” Read more