Organization of the Agency

PURPOSE: This rule describes the organization of the Public Defender Commission, the Office of State Public Defender and the State Public Defender System. (1) The Public Defender Commission, the Office of State Public Defender and the State Public Defender System are established by provision of Missouri statute as found in Chapter 600, RSMo. (2) The Office of State Public Defender is an independent department of the judicial branch of government and is the departmental office for the State Public Defender System. (3) The method and procedure for contacting or obtaining information concerning the Public Defender Commission, the Office of State Public Defender or the State Public Defender System, or for making submission or requests for information shall be through contact with the State Public Defender Director as follows: State Public Defender Director, Office of State Public Defender, Woodrail Centre, 1000 W. Nifong, Bldg. 7, Ste. 100, Columbia, MO 65203. AUTHORITY: sections 536.023 and 600.017, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Jan. 9, 1985, effective April 11, 1985. Amended: Filed Feb. 14, 2002, effective Aug. 30, 2002. Non-substantive change filed Nov. 23, 2020, published Jan. 29, 2021. *Original authority: 536.023, RSMo 1975, amended 1976, 1997, 2004 and 600.017, RSMo 1982.