20-02-2025
Missouri lawmakers push back against public defender's hiring decision
MISSOURI (KSNF/KODE) — Another change is made to one state agency's hiring policies, in an effort to satisfy Missouri lawmakers who control the agency's purse strings.
The Missouri State Public Defender's Commission met today to discuss its hiring policies after its budget was threatened last week.
Missouri State Public Defender and Commission Chair meet to address issues surrounding David Spears
This comes after a scathing rebuke from lawmakers during a budget committee meeting that ended with two representatives walking out – and the director fighting back tears.
MSPD director, Mary Fox, did not even get a chance to present the agency's budget before lawmakers took her to task on the hiring and continued employment of David Spears.
Spears, as we've been telling you since December, was convicted of child endangerment and hindering prosecution in the 2007 death of his 9-year-old stepdaughter Rowan Ford.
Legislators outraged by hiring practices by Missouri public defender's office
He has been employed with the Public Defender's Office since 2016, about a year after he was released from prison.
Employment of David Spears causes committee to refuse agency's budget requests
Lawmakers refused to hear the agency's budget presentation and said that as long as Spears works for them, they would vote no on the budget.
House Republican leadership issued a statement today (below) saying they stand by the budget committee's actions last week.
'The continued employment of David Spears within the Missouri State Public Defender's Office is a serious lapse in judgment that undermines public trust in our institutions. While we believe in second chances, there are clear and reasonable limits—especially when it comes to those who have pled guilty to hindering the prosecution of a heinous crime like the murder of Rowan Ford.
We fully support Representative Dirk Deaton and the members of the House Budget Committee in their efforts to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and in a way that reflects the values and expectations of Missourians.
We stand with our colleagues in calling for the Public Defender's Office to rectify this situation immediately. If they fail to do so, we support any and all measures, including the rejection of their budget request, to hold them accountable. Justice for Rowan Ford and her family must come first.'
Statement issued by house Republican leadership.
After a three hour executive session the commissioners announced an additional change in the language they set out last month.
Director Fox said today's change is based on language proposed by Representative Lane Roberts (R-Joplin) earlier this week when they met with Chairman Charles Atwell.
Commissioners agreed to add the following language to the hiring process: 'If the director and chair disagree on whether a final offer of employment should be made, because of the plea of guilty or conviction of a felony offense, the question shall be posed to the public defender commission, and the decision shall be based on the vote of the majority of the commission.'
Fox also added the following language that she said did not substantially alter Rep. Roberts' request: 'The director shall retain the right to not make any final offer of employment, even if the commission provides authorization. So if after the meeting with the commission, the director comes across some other information that makes them believe a final offer of employment should not be made that would keep them from having to go back to the commission another time.'
The commission made no mention of the Budget Committee's demand that Spears be 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
