Repeals provisions relating to the caseload of public defenders

SB 1109 replaces Missouri's existing public defender caseload rules with a new process allowing individual public defenders to request court conferences when caseloads threaten their ability to provide effective legal representation. If approved, the presiding judge must schedule a conference within 30 days and may order specific relief, such as appointing private counsel, modifying release conditions, or placing cases on a waiting list based on urgency. The bill requires the prosecutor and public defender to be notified of the conference and allows a 10-day window for an expedited appeal to higher court. It directly affects individual public defenders and defendants in cases where caseloads create representation challenges, focusing on addressing specific, immediate concerns rather than setting office-wide caseload limits.