Opinion ID: 795801
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of the Mathews v. Eldridge Test

Text: 41 The balance of factors relevant under the Mathews v. Eldridge test weighs in favor of having review by a neutral factfinder of a prosecutor's decision to retain a vehicle as potential evidence — although no adversarial hearing is required. [i] The private interest involved is as compelling here as it was held to be in Krimstock I; [ii] as in Krimstock I, the risk of an erroneous deprivation weighs in the government's favor, and is further mitigated here by the probable-cause requirement for the initial arrest and seizure, the requirement that the prosecutor affirmatively request retention of the vehicle, and the absence of any government self-interest in reaping the fruit of the forfeiture; and [iii] the government's interest in marshaling evidence is undoubtedly strong, though there is no record evidence that this interest has been or would be compromised by requiring prosecutors to seek a court order ex parte to justify the continued retention of a vehicle whose release has been demanded. The district court's conclusion that any judicial review (including ex parte ) creates an unwarranted burden is unsupported by past events or by hypotheticals regarding the future. 42 The district court found (as the evidence reflects) that the district attorneys have acted in good faith, without abusing their retention power. Nonetheless, given the importance of a vehicle to an individual's ability to work and conduct the affairs of life (as Krimstock I explained), and the serious harm thus resulting from the undue retention of a vehicle by the government, some immediate judicial review of the retention is required.