In 2016 the ACLU of Arkansas, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Morrison and Foerster law firm filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Sherwood, Pulaski County and Judge Milas Hale III, who presides over the Sherwood court where all Pulaski County “hot check” cases are heard.
Status: In November 2017, the civil rights groups announced a settlement under which Sherwood’s “hot check” court will no longer jail people who can’t afford to pay court fines and fees imposed for bouncing a check. Among several broad reforms to Sherwood’s practices, the settlement requires the court to evaluate each defendant’s ability to pay before determining the person’s sentence.
