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Judge issues final ruling in defender wait list suit
Wait lists for criminal defendants who need a public defender are a thing of the past — and a judge’s order aims to keep it that way.
Jackson County defenders air caseload concerns
Nearly 1,000 criminal defendants in Jackson County have been told they must wait indefinitely before they may be assigned a public defender, the Jackson County district defender testified May 30 during a conference aimed at addressing defender caseloads. Ruth Petsch, who heads the public defender’s office in Jackson County, acknowledged in sometimes tearful testimony during […]
State scrambles to rejoin public-defender caseload suit
The state of Missouri is fighting hard to rejoin litigation it spent more than two years shaking off.
Public Defender may get partial solution to caseload problem: Wesley Bell
Stephen Reynolds is waiting – and watching. One year ago, Reynolds, the District Defender in St. Louis County, convinced then-Presiding Judge Douglas Beach to recognize that his assistant public defenders were overloaded and to order possible remedies. Long-time Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch challenged that judicial order all the way up to the Missouri Supreme Court. […]
Defender case transferred to Supreme Court
A case in which St. Louis County public defenders sought — and were granted — relief for heavy caseloads now is headed to the Missouri Supreme Court.
Byrn denies defenders’ request for new judge
A judge has denied the Jackson County district defender’s request that a new judge hear her office’s concerns about public-defender caseloads.
Torrence outsources disqualification motion
Jackson County Presiding Judge John Torrence has asked another judge to consider the Jackson County District Defender’s motion to disqualify Torrence from presiding over her case seeking relief for attorney caseloads.
Defender pushes back on ‘default’ admonition
The Missouri Supreme Court recently declined to intervene in a disciplinary case against a public defender, despite allegations that the admonition was entered without due process.
Latest Opinion Digests
- Criminal Law: Child Abuse-Sufficiency Of Evidence-Closing Argument
- Civil Rights: Religious Freedom-RLUIPA-Res Judicata
- Civil Practice: Res Judicata-Stop Work Order
- Immigration: Drug Conviction-Removability-Overbreadth of State Offense
- Civil Practice: Asset Forfeiture-Sanctions
- Civil Rights: Due Process-Failure to State Claim
- Probate : Revocable Trust – Amendment – Reformation
- Employer – Employee : Unpaid Commissions – At-Will Status
- Criminal Law : Post-Conviction Relief – Effectiveness Of Counsel – Conflict Of Interest
- Appellate Practice : Jurisdiction – Final Judgment
- Domestic Relations : Parenting Plan – Child Support
- Criminal Law : Post-Conviction Relief – Guilty Plea – Sentence Advice
Top stories
- Cole County prosecutor loses third Sunshine Law appeal
- Supreme Court weighs lagging symptoms in work comp case
- New accommodation rights for pregnant workers offer broad protections
- Clark named as next Eastern District chief judge
- Russell reflects on change as women take charge of Missouri’s legal system
- NCAA scores positive gender equity review from St. Louis firm
- Big improvements for Missouri bar takers | List of bar passers
- Athena Dickson named vice-president of Missouri Bar
