Missouri Lawyers Media Missouri legal news and public notices
The Missouri Public Defender Commission posthumously awarded Charles Hoskins the 2022 Defender of Distinction Award for exemplifying the ideal of public defense.
Tagged with: litn Missouri Public Defender Commission
Read More »Reno, Richter named to Defender Commission
Gov. Mike Parson has named two former judges to the Missouri Public Defender Commission.
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Read More »Public defenders sued for use of waiting lists
A new round of litigation is seeking to address the inadequacies of Missouri’s public defender system. A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Cole County Circuit Court, alleging that the use of public defender “waiting lists” is unconstitutional. The suit ...
Tagged with: ACLU ACLU of Missouri Missouri Public Defender Commission public defender waiting lists
Read More »Defenders hope workload study will bolster case
Missouri’s public defenders have argued for years that they have too many cases for too few attorneys but have never been able to prove it. A newly released study of the defender system, they say, could be the long-sought key to reducing their caseload.
Tagged with: caseload Missouri Public Defender Commission public defenders
Read More »Deputy director, general counsel named for public defender commission
A new general counsel and deputy director have been named for the Missouri Public Defender Commission.
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Read More »PD special master: To solve the caseload crisis, redo the criminal code
An overhaul of Missouri's criminal code by a bipartisan committee is the "only true solution" to the public defender caseload problems, a special master writes.
Tagged with: Missouri Public Defender Commission
Read More »State high court offers new solution on defender cases
The Missouri Supreme Court struck down rules the Missouri Public Defender Commission enacted in 2008 that allow public defenders to refuse certain types of cases.
But, as public defenders read the decision, opinion author Judge Michael A. Wolff shoved open the door to a new option. Public defender offices can't refuse some cases and take others, but particularly burdened offices might be able to refuse to take any new cases.
Tagged with: caseload Cat Kelly Dwight Scroggins Michael A. Wolff Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Missouri Public Defender Commission Missouri Supreme Court
Read More »Missouri Supreme Court rejects public defender rules refusing cases
The Missouri Supreme Court has struck down rules passed by the state’s public defender system to limit the types of cases it accepts. In a unanimous opinion written by Judge Michael A. Wolff, the high court decided the rules conflict ...
Tagged with: Missouri Public Defender Commission SCOMO
Read More »Labor and education lawyer appointed to Public Defender Commission
Gov. Jay Nixon appointed St. Louis lawyer Nancy M. Watkins to the Public Defender Commission. Watkins, 52, practices labor and education law as an of counsel lawyer for Schuchat, Cook & Werner (click here to read her bio). She received ...
Tagged with: Jay Nixon Missouri Public Defender Commission
Read More »Giving federal defense work a try
Evans & Dixon senior associate Talmage Newton IV meets with a client at the St. Louis city workhouse. Newton is representing the client as part of his volunteer work for the Missouri Public Defender System. He's also handling two federal public defense cases for which he can be paid $110 an hour.
Tagged with: criminal defense Evans & Dixon Missouri Public Defender Commission
Read More »Defender bill goes to gov
The Missouri House sent legislation to the governor providing the Missouri Public Defender Commission with more ability to control its caseload. Sen. Jack Goodman’s bill would allow the state’s Public Defender Commission to implement a maximum caseload standard. Goodman, R-Mt. ...
Tagged with: Jack Goodman Missouri Public Defender Commission public defenders Tim Jones
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