Reforming municipal courts in Missouri is a legislative priority that deserves to be passed - and the sooner, the better.
Although it's regrettable the events in Ferguson had to be the catalyst for proposed legislation, fairness and public safety must be restored as priorities for municipal courts.
Civil rights protests in Ferguson last year following the fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer focused on a range of issues, among them municipal court operations that generate a large percentage of a city's total revenue.
Reform legislation proposes limits on municipal courts, based on the contention the exorbitant penalties unfairly target poor people and damage relations with law enforcement officers.
With the legislative session now beyond its halfway point, some concerns have been expressed that the issue remains unresolved.
The governor and legislative leaders, however, indicate municipal court reform retains its momentum.
House Speaker John Diehl, R-Town and Country, said a House panel plans to take up a Senate-passed bill this week and "enhance" it with additional reforms before advancing it to the House floor.
Gov. Jay Nixon said he believes the lawmakers "have plenty of time" and "there is a high likelihood that municipal court reform will be something that makes it to my desk."
The public perception of the courts as arbiters of fairness is critical.
"The municipal court," Nixon observed, "is where the vast majority of people first interact with the court system. And, for many Missourians - and many people across the country - it's maybe the only place they ever engage directly in the court system."
In this forum on Feb. 12, we wrote: "The purpose of municipal court is to enhance public safety by discouraging and punishing traffic offenses."
Hassling motorists and gouging them with excessive fines does not promote respect, it promotes resentment.
Enact and sign municipal court reform to restore judicial fairness as a priority.