When someone is arrested and charged with a crime, they need an attorney but aren’t always sure if they can afford it. Every defendant is informed that an attorney will be appointed to represent them if they cannot afford an attorney. This seems like an easy solution to the problem of legal representation, but how does it work?
Public Defenders Are Excellent Attorneys, but Greatly Overworked
The problem with relying upon a public defender is not the ability of the lawyer. In fact, they accumulate a great deal of legal experience in a relatively short time. The problem in Missouri, and other states, is the caseload that each attorney must handle. The lawyers have so many cases that they can’t spend the time on each case that they would like to.
John P. Gross, a former public defender, revealed that many public defense attorneys triage their case, as nurses do in an ER. The most critical cases are seen first while those judged less serious must wait and do not receive the same amount of attention.
Those people whose cases were judged less serious would undoubtedly disagree, but there are only so many hours in a day. It takes time to find out all about a case, look for errors made by the police or investigators and hunt for missing witnesses. It’s quicker to recommend making a deal with the prosecutor.
Missouri’s Public Defense System Is in Trouble
In February of 2016, Michael Barrett, the Director of the Office of the State Public Defender, warned that the public defender system in Missouri is so badly strained that it might be necessary to file a federal lawsuit. Mr. Barrett stated that he needed twice as many attorneys to handle his department’s caseload. He also said that the department had a high turnover, making the situation even worse.
He requested a funding boost of $25 million but did not receive it. Gov. Nixon’s budget increased funding by only $1.5 million, which did not include adding more attorneys.
If you’ve been arrested, your liberty is at risk. Wegmann Law Firm in Jefferson County, MO will stand by your side throughout the legal process and provide you with the best available options for your defense. They will fight aggressively to protect your rights and ensure you receive a fair trial. Click here to contact Wegmann Law Firm in Jefferson County, MO for affordable legal representation.
