ST. LOUIS — Sheriff Alfred Montgomery’s push to block a new ordinance requiring his office to drive city jail inmates to medical appointments took a hit Tuesday.

Circuit Judge Joan Moriarty rejected Montgomery’s request to immediately suspend the law, dismissing claims that it would overwhelm his staff. Instead, she granted the city’s request to require deputies to take inmates to hospitals and wait with them there when needed, at least until Oct. 15.

The ruling keeps the ordinance in effect while Moriarty considers the sheriff’s broader argument — that it violates state law.

The ordinance, signed by Mayor Cara Spencer last week, followed dozens of refusals by Montgomery’s office to transport inmates this year.

That has broken with longstanding practice under previous sheriffs, and off

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