Much has been happening in the criminal justice system as well as MACDL since the last president’s message from Dean Price.

The 2009 April Annual Conference was a huge success. Mark your calendars now for next year’s event, April 30 – May 1, 2010, Branson Convention Center, Branson, MO. Check out the pictorial of well-deserving 2009 award recipients on the MACDL web site under 2009 MACDL Awards gallery page.

Space will fill up soon for the Bernard Edelman DWI conference July 24 and 25. Click on CLE events page for a complete schedule of speakers, topics and cost.

The recent legislative session closed with passage of 2 bills important to the Public Defenders of our state and the MACDL membership. SB 37 gives the PD an ability to certify geographical areas as saturated to the extent cases normally assigned to the PD will go on a waiting list with the possibility of appointment (pro bono) to private counsel. HB 22 provides $2million in stimulus money to fund expenses of litigation. However, the request for expense money must be submitted to the PD system for approval and payout. These bills await the Governor’s signature.

The MACDL Board has communicated support to the Governor to sign these bills into law. It is the collective view of the Board this is the best opportunity in years to ultimately get the attention of the legislature to provide adequate funding for the Public Defender services.

On June 9 MACDL co-sponsored an event with the Midwest Innocence Project/UMKC Law School which previewed a piece from America’s Most Wanted about the trial and imprisonment of Dale Helwig. Past President of MACDL Sean O’Brien has spearheaded this effort for over 7 years. MACDL and MIPSO are looking to future prospects of collaboration on this and other projects. Go to ljr59@umkc.edu to reach Lindsay Runnels, MIPSO-President, if you have an interest in the story.

MACDL exhibited at the 2009 small firm and solo practioner conference at the Lake of the Ozarks. I hope you were able to visit our booth and see the MACDL display if you were an attendee.

MACDL has several committees devoted to special areas of interest to the membership and the defense bar in general. You can find a committee roster on the officer/directors page of this website. If you have a particular area of interest and would like to join on as a committee member, call the MACDL office.

Finally, if you took advantage of having your portrait taken at Branson or St. Louis/Kansas City you’re now in the Member Search. Type in your name or that of one of your member friends and check it out.

See you at the Lake.

President, Michael McIntosh