A central Arkansas city and judge are denying a lawsuit's claims that they're effectively operating a debtors' prison with a court that has imposed hefty fines and jail time on thousands of people whose checks bounce.
Attorneys for Sherwood and District Judge Milas "Butch" Hale III on Wednesday denied the claims in the lawsuit accusing them of violating the constitutional rights of thousands of residents through the prosecution of hot check cases.
The lawsuit was filed last month by The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on behalf of four people who were jailed and a Sherwood resident.
Hale and the city said in Wednesday's filing the plaintiffs are required to appeal their convictions if they believe the sentences were illegal.
