Sotomayor sidesteps question on whether court overstepped authority in property rights case

Sotomayor cautious on stating property rights view

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has sidestepped a question about whether the high court had overstepped its authority when it ruled in 2005 that governments may seize property for private development projects.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa had sought at Tuesday’s hearing to probe Sotomayor’s beliefs about property rights.

She did say she respected the “right of property owners to have their day in court.”

In a case from New London, Conn., the high court had ruled 5-4 against Susette Kelo, who brought a lawsuit against municipal officials who seized her pink cottage for private development.