David C. Mason

Blake Lawrence, an attorney for the St. Louis sheriff's office, is on administrative leave after allegedly sending harassing text messages to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter. But he says the move is retaliation.

The office's newest attorney comes in at a time the agency's leader is embroiled in numerous lawsuits, including ones sparked by alleged defamation and false imprisonment.

Attorney Lindsay Runnels of the Kansas City-based law firm Morgan Pilate has represented Lamar Johnson since 2015. Johnson was freed this week after serving 28 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Judge David Mason says he’ll hold a hearing to announce his decision but has not yet set a date.

Hundreds of African Americans who fought for their freedom in St. Louis courts will soon be commemorated in front of one of the city's oldest legal…