Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 545
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 545.820 (2026)

Court shall assign prisoner counsel, when

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  545.820.  Court shall assign prisoner counsel, when. — If any person about to be arraigned upon an indictment for a felony be without counsel to conduct his defense, and be unable to employ any, it shall be the duty of the court to assign him counsel, at his request, not exceeding two, who shall have free access to the prisoner at all reasonable hours.

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(RSMo 1939 § 4003)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 3614; 1919 § 3957; 1909 § 5164

(1956) Defendant is not entitled to more than one court appointed attorney and trial court has discretion as to whether more than one shall be appointed. State v. Lord (Mo.), 286 S.W.2d 737.

(1957) Eighteen-year-old defendant who was stranger in county who entered plea of guilty to charge of robbery in first degree by means of dangerous and deadly weapon, a capital offense, held denied due process of law where court did not appoint counsel to conduct his defense even though he did not request counsel. Edwards v. Nash (A.), 303 S.W.2d 211.

(1958) Defendant held to have waived right to be represented by counsel and to have been capable of doing so. State v. Glenn (Mo.), 317 S.W.2d 403; Cert. den. 358 U.S. 942, 79 S.Ct. 348.

(1961) Where individual, convicted and given life sentence in the penitentiary, filed a motion under supreme court rule 27.26 alleging that he had no counsel when he pleaded to the offense and the circuit court made no inquiry as to whether he had counsel or could obtain counsel and also that he was uneducated and without experience or knowledge of the law, it was error for the court to dismiss the motion without a hearing on the ground that a prior proceeding had been instituted in the court. State v. Moreland (Mo.), 351 S.W.2d 33.

(1963) Since there was no showing that defendant by reason of age, ignorance or mental incapacity was unable to make an intelligent decision as to need for counsel he had effectively waived his right to be represented by counsel when he declined to employ an attorney or have one appointed to defend him. State v. Rickard (Mo.), 364 S.W.2d 561.

(1966) Procedure prior to 1964 whereby trial court was authorized in its discretion to appoint counsel to represent defendant on appeal or to leave defendant to prosecute appeal on his own failed to afford indigent defendant equal protection of the law. Bosler v. Swenson, 363 F.2d 154. Affirmed 87 S.Ct. 996.

(1966) Arraignment is a critical stage in a criminal proceeding requiring the appointment of counsel not only in homicide cases but upon arraignment for any felony. State v. Scott (Mo.), 404 S.W.2d 699.

(1966) Appointment of counsel is required at arraignment at request of person charged with felony. State v. Scott (Mo.), 404 S.W.2d 699.

(1967) Court's compelling defendant of limited education to go on trial for felony without counsel immediately upon the withdrawal without notice of his employed counsel resulted in a denial of due process of law. State v. Martin (Mo.), 411 S.W.2d 215.

(1967) The decision of United States Supreme Court in Douglas v. California that an indigent defendant is entitled to appointed counsel on state appeal applied retrospectively to the case of an indigent prisoner whose conviction was affirmed when he was not represented by counsel. Swenson v. Donnell (A.), 382 F.2d 248.

(1968) Failure to furnish counsel to accused during interrogation before confession at a time before decision in Escobedo case was not so prejudicial as to infect the subsequent trial with an absence of fundamental fairness. Howard v. Swenson (A.), 404 F.2d 469.

(1971) After September 1, 1972, attorneys no longer required to furnish legal service gratuitously to indigent accused. State v. Green (Mo.), 470 S.W.2d 571.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases, 1952–2010 · leading case: State v. Green, 470 S.W.2d 571 (Mo. 1971).
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State v. Green, 470 S.W.2d 571 (Mo. 1971). · cites it 20× “, which provides as follows: "If any person about to be arraigned upon an indictment for a felony be without counsel to conduct his defense, and be unable to employ any, it shall be the duty of the court to assign him counsel, at his request, not exceeding two, who shall have…”
State v. Lord, 286 S.W.2d 737 (Mo. 1956). · cites it 3× “Section 545.820 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S., authorizes and directs the trial court to assign defense counsel “not exceeding two” when the defendant is without counsel of his own choice and is unable to employ counsel.”
Costa v. Allen, 323 S.W.3d 383 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “See sections 545.820, 547.360.5, RSMo 2000; MO.”
Richardson v. Miller, 716 F. Supp. 1246 (W.D. Mo. 1989). · cites it 3× “26 motion must be considered as alleging “a denial of due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States (whether or not the court was required to appoint counsel pursuant to what is now designated as Section 545.”
State v. Moreland, 351 S.W.2d 33 (Mo. 1961). · cites it 3× “Appellant attempts to establish a denial of due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States (whether or not the court was required to appoint counsel pursuant to what is now designated as Section 545.820 RSMo 1959, V.A.M.S., see…”
State v. Martin, 395 S.W.2d 97 (Mo. 1965). · cites it 3× “The record shows that defendant asked for his court-appointed counsel to withdraw from the case and that he be permitted to have counsel of his own choosing. His request was refused.”
State v. Maxwell, 411 S.W.2d 237 (Mo. 1967). · cites it 2× “There was no preliminary hearing, since the charge was initiated by an indictment.”
State v. Owens, 391 S.W.2d 248 (Mo. 1965). · cites it 2× “; RSMo 1959, § 545.820, V.A.M.S.) and because he was entitled to consult counsel after arrest and while in custody (Criminal Rule 29.”
State v. Mischanko, 272 S.W.2d 210 (Mo. 1954). · cites it 3× “In supplement to this constitutional provision the Legislature has enacted Section 545.820 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S., which provides that if any person about to be arraigned upon any indictment for a felony be without counsel to conduct his defense, and be unable to employ any, it…”
State v. Lillibridge, 399 S.W.2d 25 (Mo. 1966). · cites it 2× “01 provides: “(a) In every criminal prosecution in any court of this State, the accused shall have the right to appear and defend the same in person and by counsel. * * * If, after being informed as to his rights, the defendant indicates his desire to proceed without the benefit…”
State v. Glenn, 317 S.W.2d 403 (Mo. 1958). · cites it 2× “, provides “That in criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to appear and defend, in person and by counsel; * * In aid of this provision it is provided by § 545.820 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S., that “If any person about to be arraigned upon an indictment for a felony be…”
State v. Hurley, 251 S.W.2d 617 (Mo. 1952). · cites it 2× “See Section 545.820. Counsel, when appointed, at no time asked to be given time to prepare for trial, but he cross-examined the witnesses and represented defendant in the trial and, thereafter, filed the motion for a new trial.”
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