Ferguson’s New Judge Starts Tenure by Lowering Fines

The Missouri Supreme Court took the “extraordinary action” of placing District Appeals Judge Roy Richter in charge of Ferguson’s municipal court, in reaction to the fallout from the Department of Justice’s report labeling the entire legal system of the St. Louis satellite a racist collection agency.

Richter took the bench Thursday evening, and per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his first move was to lower a number of fines:

A parking ticket was now $52, instead of $102.

Driving without insurance ticket was $177, instead of $377.

And a ticket for an improper turn would be $97 — $5 less than before.

Judge Ronald Brockmeyer resigned/was booted two weeks ago after being savaged by the DOJ’s report, which alleged he used the city’s municipal court to fine African Americans to generate revenue for the city — all while owing $170K in back taxes, among other corruption charges.

The Missouri Supreme Court replaced Brockmeyer “to help restore public trust and confidence in the Ferguson municipal court division.” Brockmeyer’s exit was one of several following the DOJ report, including City Manager John Shaw and Police Chief Tom Jackson.

The majority of the defendants St. Louis Post-Dispatch spoke to grudgingly praised Richter for his fair penalties, having expected to owe more. But some also thought a judge-swap would hardly correct a crooked system.

“It’s still a way of extracting money from poor people,” said one of the attorneys who had initially drawn attention to the city’s court system.

[Image via screengrab/KTVI]

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