Committee advises confirmation of Andre DeGree as state defender; nominee outlines youth-court, backlog and rural public‑defender plans

Judiciary Division A voted to advise and consent on Senate Nomination 59, advancing Andre DeGree for a four‑year term as state defender after a confirmation hearing in which DeGree outlined plans to expand youth‑court representation, address a backlog of cases in Hinds County and launch a rural public‑defender pilot.

DeGree, who said he has lived in Jackson about 37 years, traced his public‑defense work from a federally funded death‑penalty resource program at Mississippi College Law School to the Hinds County Public Defender’s Office and the Capital Defense Council. He said those offices were merged into the state public defender office and that he was first appointed state defender by Gov. Phil Bryant in 2016 and later reappointed by Gov. Tate Reeves.

The nominee described three current initiatives. First, he said the office is building on last year’s mandate to provide parents counsel before children are removed, contracting with legal‑services providers and private practitioners to expand representation where counties currently shoulder most of the work. Second, DeGree said the office has been involved in Hinds County through an ARPA‑funded backlog project and work tied to HB 1020 to provide counsel in the CCID court; he told the committee the office is requesting an expansion of that arrangement to match the growth in arrests and geographic footprint of the CCID. Third, he outlined a proposal for a rural “day‑one” public‑defender pilot in the 5th Judicial District (seven counties in north‑central Mississippi) and said the office is requesting an appropriation to launch it — “about $840,000,” he said, to hire four lawyers paid at a mid‑level assistant district‑attorney salary.

Senator Simmons asked for the size of the appropriation request; DeGree answered it is “about 840,000 dollars,” and said the office planned to hire some younger lawyers with the hope they would stay in rural communities. Senator Boyd asked about variation across the state’s 82 youth courts; DeGree said the number of separate youth dockets is a problem, and that commission recommendations to reduce the number of youth courts (for example to 44 or 20) reflect efforts to make representation practicable. He said access to youth‑court files and courts is limited by statute: access to the case management system is governed by Section 261 of the Youth Court Act, and entry to courtrooms is controlled under Section 203, though he told the committee his office has been granted access for trainings and file review.

A committee peer report noted DeGree had not filed a statement of economic interest since 2020; the chair asked him to submit the backlog of filings if he is confirmed. After questions, Senator Barrett moved to advise and consent on the nomination; the committee approved by voice vote and the nomination will be taken up by the full Senate.

DeGree described the office’s work and partnerships repeatedly during his presentation, including collaboration with a technical advisor, Pam Metzger, who has conducted site visits for the rural pilot. He also emphasized the office’s continuing capital‑defense and appeals work while pursuing statewide public‑defender reforms.

The committee’s action advances DeGree’s confirmation to the Senate; the nomination will next appear on the full Senate calendar.