A Toll on Justice: a Post-Dispatch special report
A five-part series examines how all three branches of Missouri government helped prop up the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund by charging a court fee that many judges and legal scholars find unconstitutional.Â
(6) updates to this series since
All three branches of Missouri government are involved in propping up sheriffs' pensions.
It's a battle that finds many municipal judges in direct conflict with the Missouri Supreme Court.
The original statute to create the revenue source for the sheriffs passed in 1983 and had been amended several times.
Dozens of judges signed orders refusing to collect ‘ludicrous’ feeÂ
Frank Vatterott wrote the model order for others to consider using
As long as they’ve been elected, county sheriffs, particularly in rural America, have wielded the sort of influence that has other elected off…
St. Francois County judge enforces old child support case in which the father long ago died.Â
All three branches of Missouri government involved in propping up sheriffs' pensions. A five-part series.
Court frees man who was jailed for violating probation because he couldn't pay his costs.Â
Court cost that was subject of Post-Dispatch series challenged as unconstitutional.
Should municipal traffic defendants have to pay for an additional retirement fund for county sheriffs? A Kansas City judge will decide.Â
Messenger: Is it fair for poor people to pay for extra retirement benefits for sheriffs in Missouri?
KANSAS CITY — Tim Sear asked Megan Pfannenstiel if she had a retirement plan.
Case over $3 fee to pay for sheriff's retirement fund is unconstitutional, attorney argues.Â
ºüÀêÊÓƵ County judge fought money-raising scheme for sheriffs for years.Â
Supreme Court declared fee unconstitutional. New proposal might be worse.Â