Jacob Sullum on How Prosecutors Strip Defendants of the Ability To Fight Back
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Although the federal government accuses Kerri and Brian Kaley of trafficking in stolen medical devices, it has been unable to identify any victims of this alleged criminal scheme. That has not stopped the Justice Department from freezing the assets they need to defend themselves. The Supreme Court is now considering whether the Kaleys have a constitutional right to challenge the order blocking access to their money before it's too late to mount an effective defense. Jacob Sullum says that for people facing criminal charges, freedom not only is not free; it is dauntingly expensive.
