A federal lawsuit accusing a Sherwood judge of operating an unconstitutional "debtor's prison" that traps poor people in an endless cycle of fines, debt and jail time reflects a movement that is affecting courts across the country, including in Arkansas. The movement has gained momentum in the past two or three years, fueled by lawsuits, public reports documenting suspected unconstitutional practices and a letter that the U.S. Department of Justice sent out in March to the administrators for all state courts across the nation.