Missouri State Public Defender

The Missouri State Public Defender (MSPD) is a state agency created to meet the state's constitutional obligation to provide legal representation to indigent clients charged with criminal offenses.

MSPD employs approximately 585 employees. District trial offices are located throughout the state and serve clients facing criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors up to and including first degree murder. Appellate and Capital Litigation offices are located in Columbia, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Our appellate attorneys handle appeals and post-conviction proceedings while the capital attorneys represent clients facing the death penalty.