Law

Marijuana: Gary Wiegert's Free-Speech Lawsuit Goes Forward, Sgt. Hopes to Lobby for Reform

Last week, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a marijuana reform proposal that would reduce the punishment for minor pot offenses. The policy change is supposed to save police resources and the mayor is expected to sign it into law. While officials with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Depart ... More >>

Roy Blunt, No on Background Checks: "We Must Do Everything We Can to Prevent Tragedies"

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican, yesterday voted against a proposal to expand gun background checks in the country. Then he fired off this statement, that said, in part: "We must do everything we can to prevent tragedies like those that took place in Newtown, Aurora, or Tucson..." Bl ... More >>

Meth: Missouri Launches Anti-Smurfing Campaign to Curb Sale of Medicines to Cooks

Missouri, the Meth Capital of the United States, this week launched a campaign against purchasing cold and allergy medicines and selling them to methamphetamine cooks. It's the "anti-smurfing" initiative. "Missouri law enforcement officials will tell you that smurfing is one of the biggest chall ... More >>

Slut-Shaming and Free Speech: Can a Lawsuit End the Decades-Old "Senior List" In Ladue?

Martha "Missy" Combs recalls finding out this way: While cramming for a math quiz near the end of her junior year at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, she got a tap on the shoulder. It was a friend informing her that Combs made the "senior list." Combs knew exactly what this meant. The year before ... More >>

ACLU Challenges Amendment 2, But Not Because of Why You're Thinking

On Tuesday, Missourians overwhelmingly voted for Amendment 2, more commonly known as the "right to pray" amendment. The amendment ensures that everybody in the state has the right to express their religious beliefs, acknowledge God in public, and pray whether they're in a school, public building or ... More >>

Steve Penn, Fired Columnist, Sues Kansas City Star, Says He's Not a Plagiarist

Former Kansas City Star columnist Steve Penn filed a ballsy little lawsuit this week. First off, as a journalist, Penn surely knows how difficult it is to prove that his former employer defamed him, as it is with all defamation cases. But the crux of his complaint is even more controversial. Penn ... More >>

Oral Argument: Ladue-Based Creator of Tongue Vibrators Sues Chinese-Knockoff Vendors

When Jeff Klearman of Ladue went surfing online for tongue vibrators this past year, the only part of him to become roused was his ire. Several websites, he discovered, were selling tongue vibrator models dubbed, "The Tiggler." But Klearman owns the "Tiggler" trademark, as well as the patents on the ... More >>

At the River I Stand

Prosecutors Drop Charge Against Marijuana Petitioners

​Looks like peaceful protest still works. On Saturday morning, St. Charles City Attorney Mike Valenti officially dropped charges against two Show-Me Cannabis Regulation volunteers who were cited by police for "soliciting without a permit" on Sunday, January 15. The two were in fact gathering signa ... More >>

SOPA Protests Keep Kids From Researching SummerSlam

​Attention, high school students: You have to read the book now. Tonight at midnight, Wikipedia shuts down for 24 hours to protest both House Bill 3261, more commonly known as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and its related bill in the Senate, the PROTECT IP ACT (PIPA). SOPA and PIPA have raise ... More >>

Missouri Bar Proposes Overhaul to 32-Year-Old Criminal Code

​Right now, if you're convicted for possession of a controlled substance in Missouri, a low-level felony, you could be sentenced to a seven-year prison term. And if you're convicted for involuntary manslaughter, it could mean a sentence of anywhere between one and seven years. To many Missou ... More >>

Name Dispute Remains a Matter of Taste

This no longer exists. Don't even mention it.​This week's review of twinOak Wood Fired Fare (1201 Strassner Drive, Brentwood; 314-644-2772) mentions the controversy surrounding the restaurant's original name, Taste Wood Fired Fare. In discussing the dispute between what is now twinOak and Gera ... More >>

ACLU of Eastern Missouri Honors Three Social Justice Titans Tonight

​Tonight, the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri hosts its 40th annual Bill of Rights Celebration. Three local activists will be honored for their work in diverse areas of civil liberties.

Dems to Ask Justice Department For Photo ID Investigation

Marcia Fudge: The Cleveland congresswoman wants the Justice Department to investigate photo ID laws like the one planned for Missouri ballots in 2012​Next year, Missouri voters will be asked to consider an amendment to the state's constitution, requiring voters to bring an unexpired Missouri or fe ... More >>

Catholic Foster Care Won't Have Gay Couples Adopting in Illinois

'Cause you'd hate to see these guys dote on a baby.​Congratulations, Illinois' LGBT community. Beginning tomorrow, you can proverbially tie the knot in the "Land of Lincoln."  True, you can't technically call it marriage, but Illinois' new civil-union law provides you many of the benefits enj ... More >>

UPDATE: Missouri Muslims Oppose Anti-Sharia Legislation

More than a hundred Missouri Muslims visited Jefferson City Wednesday to voice concern over anti-Islam legislation.​Jim Hacking of the St. Louis chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) sent Daily RFT the photo above. Would you look at all those frightening people! Thank God (t ... More >>

Wisconsin Walkout: Could It Happen in Missouri?

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon: He's no Scott Walker.​Catching up on the news from Wisconsin -- where Democratic state senators have gone on the lam rather than give Governor Scott Walker the quorum he needs to gut state workers' collective-bargaining rights -- we found ourselves wondering: Could suc ... More >>

More Missouri Blacks Are Sent to Adult Courts

thedefendersonline.com​Another set of numbers has been compiled that suggests the Missouri justice system is plagued by racial disparities. This time, the stats indicate that a disproportionate number of black kids are transfered to adult courts, where they're threatened with prison time in pl ... More >>

Lawsuit In Works Challenging Clayton Smoking Ban in Public Parks

Live in Clayton and hate the smoking ban in parks? Call this guy at 314-726-2322.​The 25-page complaint against the city of Clayton is already written and ready to be filed in federal court. All attorney Bevis Schock needs now is a couple more plaintiffs. "I have one person confirmed, but would li ... More >>

Does Making Missouri More "Job Friendly" Always Require Screwing the Working Class?

New proposals would allow Missouri employers to really crack that whip.​The question above immediately comes to mind when considering a spate of "pro business" proposals currently being debated in Jefferson City. One of the proposals would repeal Missouri's minimum wage law, allowing employers to ... More >>

Wondering About Illinois Civil Unions?

​Got questions about the recently-passed bill allowing civil unions for same-sex (and opposite-sex) couples in Illinois? Sure you do.So head on over to Bellville, Illinois, on Thursday to hear some experts speak and answer any questions you may have about the unions, which will be available to fol ... More >>

Strip Clubs Challenge Financial Impact of New Law

The new law bans strippers from appearing nude. They can't even wear thongs. ​Attorneys for sexually oriented businesses argued yesterday in court in central Missouri that the state legislature violated its own rules in passing a strict new law on sexually-oriented businesses. The law that went in ... More >>

Percy Schmeiser: David Versus Monsanto

2:45 p.m. Sunday, November 14 at Plaza Frontenac

Jive & Wail in Maplewood Closes; Lawsuits Still Pending

jiveandwail.com​The Jive & Wail's Maplewood outpost has closed. The corner storefront has "For Lease" signs on it, and no mention of the establishment appears on the venue's website. In July, the limited liability company that runs the Maplewood location, and its owner, Stephen L. Benner, wer ... More >>

New Missouri Abortion Laws Among the Nation's Most Restrictive

​In the 2010 legislative session, Missouri, along with several other states, passed new laws placing major barriers between women and their Constitutional right to obtain abortions. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a New York-based pro-choice legal advocacy group, Tuesday released a report on t ... More >>

Leon Pullen: Former Cop Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving Prostitutes

​Leon Pullen, 32, a former police officer employed by the north St. Louis County suburb of Uplands Park has pleaded guilty to civil rights violations stemming from several incidents where he sexually assaulted and stole money from prostitutes. According to court documents, on July 15, 2009 Pu ... More >>

Mugshots: Teens Escape St. Louis Workhouse

Two 17-year-old teens -- one incarcerated for murder the other for first-degree assault -- escaped the St. Louis Workhouse on Hall Street sometime last night. Eric Gray (left) and Kurt Wallace were certified to stand trial as adults.​

James Kornhardt: Former Mehlville Fighter Convicted in Murder Plot of Danny Coleman

Kornhardt was paid for the murder from the victim's life insurance policy.​Eighteen years after the fact, the family of Danny Harold Coleman finally got some justice. Yesterday a federal jury convicted James K. Kornhardt and Steven A. Mueller of conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder fo ... More >>

We Had Sneakers, They Had Guns: Remembering Freedom Summer, Mississippi, 1964

In the summer of 1964, hundreds of young northerners descended upon Mississippi to register black voters and teach in "Freedom Schools." Among them were Charles McLaurin, Chris Hexter and Tracy Sugarman, who were all based in the town of Ruleville in Sunflower County. McLaurin was the project direct ... More >>

What Do You Call a Sex Offender Passing Out Candy w/in 1000 ft. of a School on Halloween?

​In Missouri you call him well within his rights -- that is, if he (or she) was convicted and sentenced before two relatively recent residency laws went into effect.Today the Missouri Supreme Court handed down two rulings relating to where registered sex offenders may live in the state and how the ... More >>

Missouri Juvenile Centers -- A Model For Other States

jjustice.orgMissouri HillsLost amid last week's allegations of abuse and mistreatment in St. Louis City jails, was a bit of good news about an area correction's program.On Friday the New York Times published a glowing article on the so-called "Missouri Model" of juvenile justice that stresses rehabi ... More >>

Arnold Lawsuit Challenging Red-Light Cameras Moves On Without Original Plaintiffs

Derek JensenOpponents of red-light cameras are celebrating a ruling earlier this month in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Missouri. In a broad-ranging order handed down February 3, Judge Thomas C. Mummert III denied defendant American Traffic Solutions' (ATS) motion to dismiss the RICO claims fil ... More >>

She Was His Wife, But She Wasn't his "Bud" ... The August Busch IV Divorce Files

Busch IV: Married? Really? Me!? Where?As I mentioned earlier today, August Busch IV officially divorced his wife of 2.5 years on Wednesday. I just returned from the St. Louis County Court where I took a look at the divorce file. Given the Busch clan's predilection for privacy, it's not surprising th ... More >>

Who Killed Robert Walker?: Court testimony offers hints to an unsolved murder

Yoko Ono Responds to Lennon Murphy's Alleged Lawsuit

Why don't more people honor Jackie Robinson?

The importance of the great Number 42.

Deanna to Ray: Shut Up!

The former Mrs. Vinson sues her ex-hubby to rid the airwaves of his famous cornpone voice.

Czech Mate for Anheuser-Busch

They'd Only Just Begun

Washington U. gags on a plan to screen a controversial Karen Carpenter biopic

Sentimental Journey

Unreal cares enough to send the very best; plus, we get our five minutes of TV fame and continue the hard-hitting sandwich reportage

Gland of Opportunity

Dr. William J. Catalona built an unrivaled repository of blood and tissue samples. Washington University wants to keep it. Now a judge will decide: Who owns the prostates?

Legal Loopholes

Vandalism isn't a crime in St. Louis. Just ask the police.

You Don't Know Dick

He's for tort reform but takes trial lawyers' money and sues docs

Rights Knocked

Week of January 1, 2003

Empty Promises

Missouri has been pouring millions into prisons that aren't being used. But stay tuned: If politicians have their way, there will be plenty of inmates to go around.

Custody Battle

Marvel Comics isn't going to give up Captain America without a fight

Support Structure

Financial woes can separate fathers from their children. One innovative program helps get the situation under control.

John Ashcroft's Drug Money

No Way Out

When Wendy Huddleston fell $1,370 behind in child-support payments, she was jailed indefinitely. She needed money or a lawyer -- and she had neither.

FLAGGING INTEREST

Raising some red flags at the Midtown Arts Center