Ferguson Judge Withdraws Arrest Warrants to Restore Confidence in Justice System

Protesters yell at a police line shortly before shots were fired in shooting that involved a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, this month.

Under McCullin’s new orders, traffic-violation defendants who are taken into custody for failing to appear in court will be released and given a new court date.

The city’s new municipal judge ordered massive changes Monday in Ferguson’s much-criticized municipal court, a move he said is aimed at restoring confidence in the system and easing the burden on needy defendants.

When fines and costs are leveled for petty crimes on those that can’t afford to pay, the actions typically create a cycle of warrants issued for failure to seem in courtroom and incarceration for failure to pay the fines, activists say.

A Justice Department report released in March found that Ferguson’s court system engaged in practices that were discriminatory against black residents.

McCullin, a former St. Louis Circuit Courtroom decide, possible might be on the job exclusively till April due to state regulation that limits the age of municipal judges to 75.

If a defendant repeatedly fails to appear on their scheduled court date, an arrest warrant may be issued and the city’s director of revenue may seek a set-off on the defendant’s tax return, the judge said.

Yet protests surrounding it also revealed other issues involving Ferguson police and the municipal court system.

“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”, McCullin said in a statement.

He added that many people who have their driver’s licences suspended will be able to obtain them and start driving again.

The Justice Department’s investigation began following concerns raised during the unrest that followed the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, by a white Ferguson police officer in August 2014.

“That being said, payment plans and community service do not solve racial profiling or excessive fines”, Roediger said.