Supreme Court Weighs Property Rights in Unpaid Taxes Case

The Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of allowing states to keep all proceeds from the sale of confiscated property, even when they far exceed the taxpayer's debt. The case in question involves a 94-year-old woman in Minnesota who owed $2,000 in taxes and $13,000 in penalties and interest on her condo, which was sold at auction for $40,000. The county kept the entire amount, including the surplus. The justices expressed skepticism about the county's actions and questioned the historical basis for retaining the entire value of confiscated property.