Supreme Court rules on Missouri State Public Defenders question
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The ailing Missouri State Public Defender system is failing in its constitutionally mandated mission of providing fair and adequate representation to criminal defendants that can't afford to pay for it themselves and is in desperate need of a mighty and revitalizing increase of monetary support. On Tuesday, Dec. 8, a unanimous Missouri State Supreme Court ruling gave the MSPD system a shot of confidence in its ability to limit caseloads; however "It's not a fix," said MSPD deputy director Cat Kelly.