Monday, Judge Donald McCullin announced massive changes in the city’s widely criticized municipal court, including the withdrawal of every arrest warrant issued in Ferguson prior to December 31, 2014.
According to Reuters, McCullin, who was appointed in June, is seeking to revitalize people’s faith in the Ferguson. “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.
Earlier this year, a justice department report found that the court engaged in “unlawful bias” against African-Americans and used arrest warrants “almost exclusively” as a threat to compel payment of fines, leading McCullin’s predecessor to resign.
The Justice Department also investigated the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, by a white Ferguson officer.