Preface
My first exposure to asset forfeiture litigation occurred in 1987, when I was assigned to the major narcotics prosecution program of our county. In addition to my criminal caseload, I was asked to handle any corresponding civil asset forfeiture litigation that pertained to my cases. I quickly discovered that the statutes were new, there was very little case law defining them, and the constitutional parameters were virtually untouched. I determined that a successful asset forfeiture litigator required not only my skills as a criminal prosecutor, but also civil litigation experience that I acquired prior to joining the district attorney's office. What I foresaw as a dull and dreary duty has developed into one of the most interesting and...
