Justices Doubt Strict Deadlines for Criminal Forfeiture Orders (1)

The US Supreme Court didn’t seem to agree that there are strict time limits on a district court’s ability to order convicted criminals to forfeit property as part of a punishment.

The Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure say courts must enter a preliminary forfeiture order before sentencing. Because the government didn’t prepare a preliminary order and one wasn’t entered in Louis McIntosh’s case, he argues he can’t be forced to forfeit anything related to his crime.

“It’s not too much to ask the government, if they’re seeking to deprive someone of property, to dot their ‘i’s,’ cross their ‘t’s,’ raise ...