Ferguson judge moves to overhaul municipal court system
Ferguson, Missouri’s top municipal court judge announced sweeping changes in court practices Monday in response to widespread criticism of its court system in the wake of the police killing of Michael Brown last year.
Municipal Court Judge Donald McCullin ordered that all arrest warrants issued for municipal violations which occurred prior to Dec. 31, 2014, be withdrawn, according to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and other reports.
McCullin, who was appointed to the bench in June, said defendants will be given new court dates and alternative options for disposing of their cases, including payment plans for fines and fees and community service.
“These changes should continue the process of restoring confidence in the court, alleviating fears of the consequences of appearing in court, and giving many residents a fresh start,” he said.
The changes come in part as a response to a Justice Department report in March that found that found racial bias among police and court staff. The report also found that many municipal code violations resulted in multiple arrests, jail time and fines that far exceeded the cost of the original tickets.
The measures go beyond a new state law that limits the amount of money municipalities can keep from minor traffic offenses and the amount of time people can be jailed for failing to pay fines and fees.
The Justice Department launched its investigation into Ferguson’s police department and municipal court system after the Aug. 9, 2014 shooting death of Brown by a white police officer.
