A new state law will require some municipal courts in Missouri to improve. In other cases, however, the standards simply validate how court operations traditionally have cleared the bar by a wide margin.
Count Jefferson City's municipal court operations among those that exceed the state standards that became effective Aug. 28.
Municipal court reform became a legislative priority last session in the aftermath of last year's fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer in Ferguson. Excessive traffic fines in Ferguson and other St. Louis-area cities were seen as factors contributing to inequitable treatment and racial tension.
We support the reforms, which now limit most Missouri cities to collecting no more than 20 percent of total revenue from court fines. In contrast, Jefferson City collects about 3 percent of city revenue from court operations.
In a story in Thursday's News Tribune, Jefferson City Municipal Judge Cotton Walker said effects of the new law largely are limited to some additional reporting requirements.
Some examples:
• The new law prohibits courts from suspending drivers' licenses for failure to appear in court or failure to pay a fine for a minor traffic violation. Walker said Jefferson City has not threatened such suspension for years, "because we did not feel like it was the right way to deal with it."
• The law specifies a process for issuing arrest warrants for people who miss a court appearance. Walker said Jefferson City will make a minor adjustment to existing policy and noted: "We already were sending a courtesy letter, with a notice saying, "A warrant will be issued if you don't appear at the next court date.'"
• The law requires courts to apprise defendants of their rights and court procedures. Walker has posted that information in the courtroom since he was elected in 2011, but added: "I did issue a new court operating rule, to make it clear ... that this is what we do and this is what we don't do."
Municipal court reform is doubly encouraging.
From a state perspective, it requires courts to prioritize dispensing justice, fairly and inequitably, not filling city coffers.
And from a municipal perspective, it highlights Jefferson City's tradition of high standards.