It could be the end of the road for the city of St. Louis’ attempt to overturn Missouri’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights—as a judge rejected its lawyers’ attempt to substitute a new aggrieved taxpayer for one who dropped out.
The long and winding litigation dates back to 2021, when then-Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed the bill of rights into law. The city filed a lawsuit challenging the legislation partly on the basis of the state’s Hancock Amendment, which says the state cannot require local governments to take on new duties without providing funding for them. The city had argued that the bill of rights ran afoul by requiring it conduct full hearings for officers who are suspended or fired, among other things.
The Missouri Supreme Court struck down the city’s other arguments, but allowed the Hancock claim to advance. Critically, though, that part of the lawsuit was filed on behalf of Heather Taylor, a retired police officer who served as Mayor Tishaura Jones’ director of public safety from 2021–2023. Only a taxpayer—-not a city—can file a Hancock Amendment claim…