Supreme Court to hear Alaska plane seizure case

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on July 20, 2026, to hear the case of Kenneth Jouppi, an United States — Alaska bush pilot whose 1969 Textron — Cessna was seized by the state after a passenger brought a six-pack of beer on a flight to Beaver, a dry village. Jouppi was convicted of a misdemeanor for transporting alcohol into a dry community. The United States — Alaska Supreme Court upheld the forfeiture, but Jouppi argues it violates the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause. The case will be heard in the fall of 2026, with a decision expected by mid-2027.