MSPD News ReleasesCat Kelly Steps Down from State Public Defender Post
May 28, 2015
(COLUMBIA, MO)—Cathy (Cat) Kelly was the fourth attorney ever to serve as Missouri’s State Public Defender and the only woman to fill that post. On Thursday, she turned over the reins to her successor, Michael Barrett. The director is appointed to a four-year-term by the Missouri Public Defender Commission and Kelly chose not to seek reappointment to a second term. Instead, she is retiring both from Public Defense and the practice of law.
A 1983 graduate of Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Cat began her legal career in the St. Louis City Circuit Attorney’s Office, but says she quickly realized her heart lay more in fighting against, rather than on behalf of, the government. She joined the St. Louis City Public Defender office, eventually rising through the ranks to lead the office and then oversee several defender offices in the greater St. Louis area. 
In 1995, she was named Director of Training for the state system, a post she held for 11 years. In 2006, then-Director J. Marty Robinson was deployed to Iraq. Kelly was promoted to Deputy Director and tagged to lead the system during his absence. Upon his return, she continued to work with the legislature, courts, and media, raising awareness of the state of Missouri’s overloaded public defender system. When Robinson retired in 2011, Kelly was named to replace him.
“Not many people are blessed to spend 31 years in a career they’re passionate about,†says Kelly. “It’s icing on the cake to leave knowing that the cause I’ve served so long is in very capable hands.â€
For questions regarding this information, please contact:
Michael Barrett
Director and Public Information Officer
Missouri Public Defender System
Phone: 573-526-5212
Email: Michael.Barrett@mspd.mo.gov