By Maria Altman, St. Louis Public Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-877002.mp3
St. Louis – Public defenders in Missouri, like those in many states, have been overworked and underpaid for years. The lawyers say they have so many cases in Missouri now, that the system is on the verge of collapse. The Supreme Court of Missouri seems to agree. In a recent ruling it opened the door for the state's public defenders to refuse taking on more defendants.