Private Counsel Appointment for Public Defender Clients
Training and Resources
Thank you for standing together to serve those in need.
I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Missouri;
That I will maintain the respect due courts of justice, judicial officers and members of my profession and will at all times conduct myself with dignity becoming of an officer of the court in which I appear;
That I will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact or law;
That I will at all times conduct myself in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct; and,
That I will practice law to the best of my knowledge and ability and with consideration for the defenseless and oppressed.
TRAINING
Private Counsel
Overview
This session provides an overview of the following:
- How a case moves through the system,
- Range of punishment and types of probation
- Resources for clients
- Common terminology
Client First Interview, Reviewing Discovery, and Negotiations
After you've been assigned a client to represent, what's next? This segment will walk you through:
- Conducting the first interview with your client,
- Reviewing discovery for drug possession and felony stealing cases, and
- Negotiating with the prosecutor in order to get the best outcome from the plea offer.
Motions
In the course of defending your client, you may need to file motions on their behalf with the Court. This section provides an overview of some of the common motions filed, including:
- Request for Discovery
- Compel
- Dismiss
- Suppress
- Notice of Deposition
- Pretrial Motions
The Plea
If your client has decided to plead guilty, what must you do? This section will explore:
- Alternative options to explore prior to entering a plea of guilty such as diversion programs,
- 'Open', 'Blind' and 'Non-Pursuant' pleas,
- The client's rights to a trial,
- Range of punishments,
- Ethical obligations, and
- How to conduct the guilty plea
