Can a restaurant make a server pay for a check that a customer walked out on?

They can't make you pay in the sense that they can sue you or prosecute you if you don't. however, they can fire you if you don't (since they can fire you for basically anythin or nothing). I do not believe they can withold it from your pay without your permission. By the way, whether it is legal or not, it is a ridiculous thing to do, in my opinion.