A Missouri public defender was so fed up with budget cuts he assigned a case to the governor
AP
He ordered the governor, Jay Nixon, to represent him, according to a letter released by Barrett.
Missouri law allows the public defender to delegate legal representation "to any member of the state bar of Missouri" in extraordinary circumstances. Barrett says Nixon has repeatedly refused to give the public defender system enough money to operate, and is withholding funding increases this year.
Citing extraordinary circumstances, Barrett ordered Nixon himself to represent the man, who was charged with assault, in Cole County.
"Providing counsel to poor people who face incarceration is the obligation of the state," Barrett told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's not fair to go after private attorneys who are trying to pay the rent when they had nothing to do with contributing to this."
This is the first time Barrett has exercised this particular power. The current situation is dire, Barrett told the Washington Post. The public defender system only got $4.5 million of the $23.1 million it requested in June, which isn't enough to hire the 270 additional attorneys it needs. As a result, public defenders spent far less time on individual cases than the American Bar Association's recommendation.
"However, given the extraordinary circumstances that compel me to entertain any and all avenues for relief, it strikes me that I should begin with the one attorney in the state who not only created this problem, but is in a unique position to address it," Barrett told the Post-Dispatch.
Nixon's office hasn't responded to comment from multiple media outlets, as of Wednesday night.
According to reports, Missouri public defenders have been underfunded for years, resulting in overworked attorneys, low pay, and - in this case - an unusual assignment for the governor.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
- From terrace to table: 8 Edible plants you can grow in your home
- India fourth largest military spender globally in 2023: SIPRI report
- New study forecasts high chance of record-breaking heat and humidity in India in the coming months
- Gold plunges ₹1,450 to ₹72,200, silver prices dive by ₹2,300
- Strong domestic demand supporting India's growth: Morgan Stanley