Court-Appointed Attorneys in Criminal Cases
You have the right to a court appointed attorney -- most of the time.
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Most criminal defendants are represented by court-appointed lawyers who are paid by the government. Paradoxically, the biggest reason that most defendants are represented by lawyers in criminal cases is that most defendants can’t afford to hire their own private defense attorneys. When defendants are considered to be legally indigent—as most are—the court is constitutionally required to provide them with legal representation at government expense if jail or prison is a possible outcome of the case.
Read on to learn who these attorneys are, who is entitled to receive their services, and the type of services you are entitled to expect from them.
An experienced attorney will be familiar with the law and the players (judge, prosecutor, and police) involved in your case.
Yes.
Public defenders are paid by the government, but they work for you.
When there's no public defender office, or the P.D. can't take the case, the court will appoint a lawyer who is on the indigent "panel."
These questions often arise when arrestees think about getting legal representation.
When applying for a court-appointed lawyer, be sure to be honest about your finances.
A P.D. is a licensed lawyer who may be more experienced than many private attorneys.
Judges rarely grant requests to substitute a new lawyer for current appointed counsel.
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