Judge Who Put A Stop To 'Stop And Frisk' To Speak In St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, MO — The retired federal judge who declared a controversial police tactic called "stop and frisk" unconstitutional in New York City will visit St. Louis in March for a public forum. Judge Shira Scheindlin will speak at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, Missouri, at 7 p.m. March 6.

Stop and frisk commonly refers to the practice of police stopping pedestrians, questioning and searching them without probable cause. In her 2013 opinion, Scheindlin wrote that the practice in New York City amounted to "racial profiling" and said that city officials "turned a blind eye to the evidence that officers [were] conducting stops in a racially discriminatory manner."

She appointed an independent monitor to oversee changes to the NYPD's tactics.

Then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for president, appealed Scheindlin's ruling, which was ultimately upheld.

In a 2013 interview, Bloomberg defended stop-and-frisk policing, saying: "[T]hey just keep saying, 'Oh it's a disproportionate percentage of a particular ethnic group.' That may be, but it's not a disproportionate percentage of those who witnesses and victims describe as committing the [crime]. In that case, incidentally, I think we disproportionately stop whites too much and minorities too little."

Bloomberg later said those comments do not reflect his commitment to criminal justice reform and racial equity.

Organizers said Scheindlin's expenses are being paid by a group of private citizens "interested in education, police policy and its implications for the 2020 presidential election," but that the event is not associated with any political party or campaign.

Local elected officials and community leaders will have an opportunity to ask Scheindlin questions about stop-and-frisk policing and her time on the federal bench. They include St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, St. Louis County Council chairwoman Lisa Clancy, Sgt. Heather Taylor of the Ethical Society of Police, Pastor Traci Blackmon of the United Church of Christ and attorney Arindam Kar.

Scheindlin will also take questions from the public.

The event is free. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.