After starting the year in January with demands from civil rights lawyers to end its use of money bail—keeping poor people in jail on minor offenses while letting those with cash bond out—the Atlanta Municipal Court responded quickly, ending the practice within the month. The Atlanta City Council made it official in February, endorsing signature bonds for petty crimes.

Now the court has taken another step under the direction of a newly chosen chief judge. Chief Judge Christopher Portis announced last week he has created an Improvement Task Force to study the court and recommend meaningful reforms to its operations over the next year.