AREA PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE HIRES ATTORNEYS

JACKSON -- Two additional attorneys have joined the staff as assistant public defenders in the Southeast Missouri district of the state's public defender system.

Mercedes Fort of Cape Girardeau and Wayne Keller of Perryville have been added to the staff, announced Kenton Hall, district defender and managing attorney of the district office. They bring the total number of public defender attorneys in the district to eight.

Fort joined the public defender's office Monday upon being sworn in as a member of the Missouri Bar by Judge William Syler. She had previously worked as a clerk for U.S. Magistrate Louis Blanton in Cape Girardeau.

Fort earned her law degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in May. Previously, she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Georgia Southwestern College and a master's degree in psychobiology from Florida State University.

While a student at the SIU law school, Fort worked as editor of the law review and was honored with the Illinois Women Bar Association Foundation Scholarship.

Fort will be responsible for misdemeanor cases and preliminary hearings for felonies in Division III of the Circuit Court in Cape Girardeau County.

She is married to Dr. Richard Burns, chairman of the psychology department at Southeast Missouri State University.

Keller has practiced with the area public defender's office since July 31, the day after he took the bar examination.

Keller, a Perryville native, began his law studies and career after retiring from the Navy in April 1992. He had served in the Navy for over 29 years, serving as a supply corps officer.

In 1993, he earned his bachelor's degree in education from SIU-Carbondale. He then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School.

Keller handles public defender cases in Scott and Mississippi counties.

The public defender's office provides legal representation for people who are charged with a violation of state criminal statutes but can't afford an attorney. Each year the district office handles over 2,000 cases.

The district office covers Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, Perry and Scott counties.