by Alisa Nelson | Dec 13, 2021 | Crime / Courts, News, Show Me Today
Last year, the Missouri Public Defender System had more than 5,800 cases on a waiting list for services. Director Mary Fox tells Missourinet no one is currently on that list. “That doesn’t mean things are perfect. I want to make that clear, but we did make the...
by Alisa Nelson | Aug 20, 2021 | Crime / Courts, News
The Missouri Legislature passed a state budget this year that includes hiring a total of 53 new public defenders statewide. Missouri Public Defender System Director Mary Fox tells Missourinet 34 of those positions have been filled. Most of the new hires are awaiting...
by Alisa Nelson | Jun 21, 2021 | Crime / Courts, News
If Gov. Mike Parson does not make changes to the Missouri Public Defender System’s next budget, the office is on track to get its largest staffing increase since about 1989. Director Mary Fox tells Missourinet 53 new public defenders would be hired statewide. “This is...
by Alisa Nelson | Mar 15, 2021 | Crime / Courts, News
Missouri law can criminalize parents who fail to pay child support. The Missouri Public Defender System handles roughly 6,000 of these cases annually. During a state House Budget Committee hearing, System Director Mary Fox said handling those cases in civil court,...
by Alisa Nelson | Feb 28, 2021 | Crime / Courts, News
A Missouri court has ruled that putting individuals on a waiting list to get public defender services violates state and federal law. Gov. Mike Parson’s state budget proposal aims to reduce the line of people waiting for these services. The system has nearly 400...
