JEFFERSON CITY Mo – The Missouri Bar Association held its second ever lobby day Wednesday at the Capitol. More than 50 members of the Bar association, including its board of governors, were on hand at the capitol. The main issue that the Bar association looked to raise awareness for is the pending update to criminal code.
President of the Bar Association, and Kansas City civil trial lawyer Jack Brady said, “Missouri first passed a criminal code in 1979. Since that time, because of amendments and provisions, the criminal code has become inconsistent. The goal was to re-organize the code and make the provisions more fair and consistent” Brady said.
Brady used the example of multiple driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol offenses.
“Writing a bad check for several hundred bucks, and having a third DUI conviction both have a sentence of seven years and thats a prime example of why were trying to update the code here,” Brady said.
Brady also cites re-organization as an emphasis. Under current law there are 25 different assault offenses in Missouri, these different offenses are all seen as similar and under the proposed criminal code would be shortened to eight different offenses.
The Bar Association realizes a revised criminal code is a gargantuan piece of legislation that may need multiple legal interpretations. Gov. Jay Nixon stated in a press release that the criminal code bill currently in the Senate is too large to be effective. Brady visited Rep. Mike Bernkoetter, R-Jefferson City, and senators Jason Holsman D-Kansas City, and Eric Schmitt R-Glendale, personally as a part of a multi-pronged informative campaign – several bar members talking to multiple legislators – by the association.
“All of us tried to meet with as many legislators and senators that we could and to answer any questions that they might have, it is a large bill,” Brady said.
Brady and the Bar association have a positive outlook on the proposed revisions.
“Fines for various crimes, have not been updated for inflation for the last 35 years,” Brady said. “It’s going to punish people more severely, who commit more severe crimes. We’ve got a lot of support for it in the legislature.”
Brady made note that the Senate has been discussing the proposed revisions during this current session, and that the criminal code revisions passed through the house last year.
