Check it out: two recently-published books on eminent domain. We’ve not had a chance to read either one yet, but they both look promising:
- Before Eminent Domain: Toward a History of Expropriation of Land for the Common Good by Susan Reynolds. From the publisher’s description: “In this concise history of expropriation of land for the common good inEurope and North America from medieval times to 1800, Susan Reynoldscontextualizes the history of an important legal doctrine regarding therelationship between government and the institution of privateproperty. Before Eminent Domain concentrates on western Europe and theEnglish colonies in America.” Available from Amazon here.
- Evicted! Property Rights and Eminent Domain in America by David Schultz. From the publisher’s description: “The 2005 Supreme Court decision Kelo v. City of New London,which upheld the taking of an individual’s home by local government forthe sake of private development, unleashed a firestorm of controversy.The backlash against eminent domain cuts across partisan, ideological,and racial lines, with 4 out of 5 Americans opposing Kelo. Critics of Keloclaim that it represents a radical departure in the law, putting everyhomeowner in jeopardy of dispossession by government at the service ofcorporate interests. But are property rights and eminent domain trulyin mortal conflict? Written for general readers, property owners, andlocal government officials seeking to understand the implications of Kelo for eminent domain and property law, Evicted! cuts through all the hype and hysteria surrounding Kelo and argues that the alleged wave of eminent domain abuse is mostly a myth.”
If anyone has thoughts about the books or reviews, send them our way.