Republic National Bank of Miami v. United States

Summary

The Court held that transferring cash representing the res in an in rem civil-forfeiture action from the district does not divest the Court of Appeals of jurisdiction. It further held that the funds remained reachable if the claimant prevailed, so the appeal was not moot and a favorable judgment would not be useless. The Court reversed the dismissal of the appeal and remanded for further proceedings. Justice White, Justice Stevens, and Justice Thomas wrote separate concurring opinions addressing whether the Court should decide, and how it should resolve, the Appropriations Clause issue; the Chief Justice separately concurred in part and in the judgment, relying on existing appropriations to support return of the funds.