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The Missouri public defender's office is rated 49th in the country in per capita spending. It has been on the receiving end of several budget cuts by the governor. Heck, the legislature gave them a $3.5 million budget increase but the governor cut that back to $1 million.

So, since the governor is a lawyer, the head of the public defender's office assigned the governor a case by using Missouri law.

Do you have any source material to read on this?

 skyth wrote:
The Missouri public defender's office is rated 49th in the country in per capita spending. It has been on the receiving end of several budget cuts by the governor. Heck, the legislature gave them a $3.5 million budget increase but the governor cut that back to $1 million.

So, since the governor is a lawyer, the head of the public defender's office assigned the governor a case by using Missouri law.

Yup. My Governor is toast.

See more here:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/nixon-says-public-defender-maneuver-not-legal/article_3b78abf2-30d8-54f6-9873-2634583e5091.html

I have to agree with the Governor that the public defender is clearly misapplying the law. The courts will probably have to examine what "delegate" means under Missouri law. I wonder if the court will also consider the best interest of any defendant who ends up with an unwilling lawyer defending him?

Silliness aside, it's a clever way to call attention to the pitiful state of public defense in the US. I get that providing money to defend accused persons isn't exactly sexy when it comes to election time, but it's an important thing and we really should put more money into it than we do.

 Breotan wrote:
I have to agree with the Governor that the public defender is clearly misapplying the law. The courts will probably have to examine what "delegate" means under Missouri law. I wonder if the court will also consider the best interest of any defendant who ends up with an unwilling lawyer defending him?

Not sure how you are seeing that the law doesn't apply as from a clear reading, I don't see how it doesn't apply. It's just that the governor doesn't like the consequences of his actions.

Gotta agree, the law seems pretty clear cut.

The article Whembly linked, the author even seemed a bit confused on how the Governor was justifying his view.

I agree that the law from what I read seems clear, but I think the chances of the governor showing up in court to defend this guy are slightly less than my chances of winning the powerball while getting a lapdance from Katy Perry.

 Ouze wrote:
I agree that the law from what I read seems clear, but I think the chances of the governor showing up in court to defend this guy are slightly less than my chances of winning the powerball while getting a lapdance from Katy Perry.

Pay attention to this, cause if he does go, you need to get down to a gas station, then the strip club asap.

If this happens, I need to know what strip club Ouze is going to.

Something something big balloons?

 LordofHats wrote:
Silliness aside, it's a clever way to call attention to the pitiful state of public defense in the US. I get that providing money to defend accused persons isn't exactly sexy when it comes to election time, but it's an important thing and we really should put more money into it than we do.

Why would you want to waste time giving criminals lawyers? Do you just want them to walk free without consequences. If they did the crime they should do the time and we shouldn't waste the state's money or the court's with the nonsense. If these people didn't need to behind bars the police wouldn't have brought them in the first place! "Defenders" are just snakes looking to make a quick buck by getting in the way of justice.

If you had some common sense you wouldn't be so SOFT ON CRIME

 Chongara wrote:

 LordofHats wrote:
Silliness aside, it's a clever way to call attention to the pitiful state of public defense in the US. I get that providing money to defend accused persons isn't exactly sexy when it comes to election time, but it's an important thing and we really should put more money into it than we do.

Why would you want to waste time giving criminals lawyers? Do you just want them to walk free without consequences. If they did the crime they should do the time and we shouldn't waste the state's money or the court's with the nonsense. If these people didn't need to behind bars the police wouldn't have brought them in the first place! "Defenders" are just snakes looking to make a quick buck by getting in the way of justice.

If you had some common sense you wouldn't be so SOFT ON CRIME

Not sure if sarcasm...

What happens if the governor doesn't show up for his mandatory duty? Does he get fined, found in contempt of court, disbarred?

 Kilkrazy wrote:
What happens if the governor doesn't show up for his mandatory duty? Does he get fined, found in contempt of court, disbarred?

Court could use its contempt powers, but any ambitious judge probably won't.

 djones520 wrote:

 Chongara wrote:

 LordofHats wrote:
Silliness aside, it's a clever way to call attention to the pitiful state of public defense in the US. I get that providing money to defend accused persons isn't exactly sexy when it comes to election time, but it's an important thing and we really should put more money into it than we do.

Why would you want to waste time giving criminals lawyers? Do you just want them to walk free without consequences. If they did the crime they should do the time and we shouldn't waste the state's money or the court's with the nonsense. If these people didn't need to behind bars the police wouldn't have brought them in the first place! "Defenders" are just snakes looking to make a quick buck by getting in the way of justice.

If you had some common sense you wouldn't be so SOFT ON CRIME

Not sure if sarcasm...

Pssst..... its sarcasm. Chongara used the old SOFT ON CRIME which is kind of his shtick.

As bad as it makes the governor look, he won't be the defender on the case. It would be fun to see him cancel his schedule and tell teachers unions and other groups sorry this case takes precedence. Maybe you could have a 1-2 week furlough on non essential services and increase the budget for public defenders or just do what Florida does and require all lawyers to do 1-2 pro bono cases per year. You can pay to opt out and pay into the public defenders fund and someone else will cover your time if necessary. That's what all of my West Palm friends do.

boyd wrote:
As bad as it makes the governor look, he won't be the defender on the case. It would be fun to see him cancel his schedule and tell teachers unions and other groups sorry this case takes precedence. Maybe you could have a 1-2 week furlough on non essential services and increase the budget for public defenders or just do what Florida does and require all lawyers to do 1-2 pro bono cases per year. You can pay to opt out and pay into the public defenders fund and someone else will cover your time if necessary. That's what all of my West Palm friends do.

That sounds like how rich people approach the draft too!

As witty as you think a post may be, don't post 1 word posts, that is spamming the forum. Thanks

 Ouze wrote:
... getting a lapdance from Katy Perry.

Thank you for that image. No seriously, thank you.

I think this is great. It feels like too many things that should be stopped, questioned or opposed (such as defunding the public defender) are let slide because no one can find a way to tackle the behemoth of a problem. This has, to my overly idealistic side, the ring of holding power accountable and I like it.