Albers v. Koffman

FENNER, Judge.

Relator, Scott Albers, is the Public Defender for the 18th Judicial Circuit. In this action, Albers seeks to prohibit respondent, The Honorable Robert L. Koffman, from carrying out the court’s order that Albers, in his capacity as Public Defender, represent a James Harms in a civil contempt *485proceeding arising from alleged non-payment of child support.

Albers argues that the case of State ex rel. Sterling v. Long, 719 S.W.2d 455 (Mo. banc 1986) is controlling. In Sterling, the Missouri Supreme Court held that the trial court cannot compel, under penalty of contempt, a public…