3 ms·
> It was almost impossible to prosecute a ship owner who lived across the ocean in Europe, so simply seizing a ship and its smuggled goods was a viable alternat
by Hello71 4y ago
> It was almost impossible to prosecute a ship owner who lived across the ocean in Europe, so simply seizing a ship and its smuggled goods was a viable alternative.
why not? prosecute them normally, if they show up then the trial proceeds as usual, if not then convict them in absentia and then forfeit the goods. why does this require a whole new system that bypasses all the constitutional rights for domestic citizens?
- NovemberWhiskey 4y agoIn absentia criminal trials are almost unheard of in the U.S. as a result of the due process requirements in the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.
- colejohnson66 4y agoBecause the US does not do "in absentia" trials. It's why Snowden has never been convicted; he fled before he could be charged. And now that he's gone, the US can't do anything if Russia won't extradite him.