Missouri governor wins another round in high-profile spat over public defender funding

JEFFERSON CITY • An attention-grabbing move to highlight Gov. Jay Nixon’s decision to cut the state budget has ended in the governor’s favor.

In a ruling made public Friday, a Cole County judge ruled Nixon correctly used his power as chief executive when he chopped $3.5 million from the Missouri State Public Defender, which provides poor people with attorneys.

Circuit Judge John Beetem said the governor was authorized to withhold funds from specific agencies. The judge also said Nixon did not violate a separation of powers clause when he took action against the agency.

Michael Barrett, the state’s lead public defender, has been fighting to boost spending on public defenders. A 2014 study of the agency found it needed millions of more dollars and scores more attorneys to do an adequate job representing low-income people in court.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-governor-wins-another-round-in-high-profile-spat-over/article_d2cd0ffe-5a30-554e-a70a-a5c15a6bd4a5.html