A Missouri judge issued an arrest warrant for Jill Stein after she skipped a scheduled Monday court appearance. The former Green Party presidential nominee was supposed to face charges from an April 2024 protest. She did not show up to the St. Louis courtroom. Her attorney was not there either.
St. Louis Associate Circuit Judge Karma Johnson confirmed the failure to appear on Monday. She ordered the warrant for Stein’s arrest immediately. The judge also set a new date for September 14. Stein must be there in person to avoid another warrant.
The case stems from a chaotic protest at Washington University. Stein was 76 years old when the event took place on April 27, 2024. She was charged with first-degree trespassing and fourth-degree assault. These are misdemeanor crimes. The charges follow her alleged assault on a police officer.
Prosecutors say the trouble started when protesters locked arms. They yelled “hold the line” as officers moved in. Stein allegedly grabbed a police officer’s bicycle. The bike struck another cop in the forearm while he held it up. She then allegedly kicked the officer multiple times in the right leg near his groin.
The officer, identified as Officer Moore, suffered real injuries. He was diagnosed with a forearm strain and a contusion on his leg. He also had a groin injury. Stein claims the story is different. She says an officer grabbed her foot to make her fall.
“I wiggled out of his grip, you know, in an effort not to fall back on my head,” Stein said. This quote comes from her own account of the event. The court now has to sort out these conflicting stories. That process requires her to be present in the courtroom.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith addressed the case last year. She wanted to make sure people understood the nature of the charges. She stated that the case was not about free speech rights.
“I want to make it clear that these misdemeanor criminal charges are not a statement about the freedoms of speech or assembly, which we honor and uphold as part of our Constitution,” Smith said. She added that the charges were not about the protest topic either.
“These misdemeanor criminal charges are not a statement about the freedoms of speech or assembly. “They are not a statement about the subject of the protest, which was the situation in Gaza, Smith said. Prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to prove the case. They say the evidence shows a crime was committed.
Stein’s lawyer, Joseph Welch, arrived at court later on Monday. He found the warrant had already been issued. Judge Johnson then quashed the warrant after seeing the lawyer. But the judge made a strict new rule for the next hearing.
“There will be a failure to appear warrant for Ms. Stein,” Johnson said from the bench. This warning was clear. If Stein misses the September 14 date, a new warrant will be issued. The judge ordered her to appear in person without fail.