Missouri public defender disciplined for neglecting clients

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court is putting a public defender on probation after he admitted to neglecting indigent clients while he dealt with illness and a heavy caseload.

The state’s high court Tuesday put Columbia-based public defender Karl Hinkebein on probation for a year. The court could suspend his license if he doesn’t follow his probation.

The case hit on larger concerns that have been raised by the head of the public-defender system about underfunding and unmanageable caseloads.

Hinkebein in court documents admitted he failed to properly represent and communicate with six clients between 2011 and 2014. A state attorney discipline agency recommended he be suspended for a year, but his attorney argued for a lighter punishment because he was sick and handling a large caseload.