Local courts deal with caseload issue

Cole County court officials have echoed some of the same concerns found in State Auditor Tom Schweich's audit on public defenders.

The auditor questioned the calculations for determining caseloads, something Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Richardson talked about during a meeting with Cole County judges last month.

Richardson said he felt the judges should hear an argument on the matter instead of letting the public defender"s commission be allowed to determine what the limit is and how the courts handle it.

Cole County Judge Dan Green, however, believed the Missouri Supreme Court made a decision that he would have to live with when it ruled a Christian County judge shouldn't have appointed a public defender after that office said they ....

See also:

Audit focuses on Mo. public defender caseloads