The Director of Missouri’s Public Defenders urged the Missouri House Budget Committee to adopt an increased budget Monday.
Michael Barrett, the director of the Missouri State Public Defender system, requested a budget of $70 million. However, Gov. Eric Greitens proposed a budget of just $43.6 million for the Public Defender's office. The budget for the 2017 fiscal year was $41.1 million.
According to an audit from 2014, one accounting firm estimated that the public defender’s system would need 291 new lawyers to meet its current caseload in Missouri. The Missouri Public Defense system ranks 49th in the country in terms of funding.
Barrett argues that the lack of public defenders burdens already overworked lawyers.
“The problem is there is only so much time in the day,” Barrett said. “So when they have 150 to 200 cases that they’re responsible for, when a lawyer can only ethically handle a percentage of those cases, then they simply don’t have the time and the day to do all that needs to be done.”
Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, said Missouri’s Public Defense System does need additional funding.
“I have been talking to Michael Barrett for the last couple years about their issues there,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re going to make an effort to improve their situation a little bit. But as a result of that, we’re going to expect them to provide results.”
Barrett said that the issue has reached a critical mass.
“Last year, we saw both an increase in costs as well as a 12 percent across-the-state increase in our caseloads,” Barrett said. “This is unsustainable. Something’s go to give.”