JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri appeals court judge will be taking over the municipal court system in Ferguson following a highly critical report by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Missouri Supreme Court said Monday that it's assigning appeals Judge Roy Richter to hear all of Ferguson's pending and future municipal court cases. He will take over on March 16 for Ronald J. Brockmeyer, who resigned Monday.
Mayor James Knowles III told The Associated Press the city would begin seeking Brockmeyer's permanent successor Tuesday.
The Supreme Court says Richter also will have the authority to make "needed reforms" to "restore the integrity of the system."
The change comes after the Justice Department released a report last week prompted by the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown that criticized a profit-driven city court system.
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