I am an ordinary person, but since our court systems are publicly funded, they must be trustworthy so that they can deliver justice without bowing to political pressure. I invite the media or the public to follow this legal saga involving the RoC Judge of the 16th District Court (Circuit Case No. 2316-CV33813 and Appellate Case No. WD87380) and tell me where I went wrong. .

1. Lucas tried (unsuccessfully) to prosecute me in court for the city’s false accusations. City Judge Martina Peterson ruled I did nothing wrong. I filed a lawsuit against Lucas and the City.

2. Lucas did not like Judge Harrell’s appointment to the case by the court and requested a new judge.

3. The new Judge, Justice Sarah Castle, ruled that I had a legitimate civil claim against Lucas for “falsely arresting and wrongfully imprisoning” me at the Town Hall on Council day, and set the case for hearing.

4. Stunned and fearful of political consequences, Lucas filed numerous legal filings protesting Judge Castle’s bold decision.

A. Lucas filed a Writ of Prohibition with the Court of Appeals to vacate Castle’s decision through the argument of sovereign immunity. The appeals court sent Judge Castle a notice to respond by August 16. This is where things changed. Judge Castle refused to respond and defend his decision before the Court of Appeal.

B. Meanwhile, Mayor Lucas once again filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in Castle’s own Court to dismiss my case via summary judgment argument.

In a jaw-dropping turnaround, Judge Castle ruled in Lucas’ favor, citing (merely) a procedural error on my part. As a ‘pro se’ plaintiff, Judge Castle should have acted fairly and allowed me to amend my case (the pro se arguments shall be “freely construed to effect their purpose”) so he could rule on the merits of Lucas’ motion. He didn’t.

In response to this unfair decision, I filed a Petition for Reconsideration (which included my amended brief correcting the error). Judge Castle again (as he did in the Court of Appeal) refused to answer.

I have since filed an Appeal with the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals.

Judges hiding behind their robes, not reacting, and acting confusingly that people cannot understand will only arouse people’s suspicion.

KC Activist, Clay Chastain

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It’s improving. . .