Public Defender
An attorney appointed by the court to represent defendants who cannot afford to hire a private attorney.
Encyclopedia entry: Public Defender
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public defender
A public defender is a lawyer who represents indigent criminal defendants. Public defenders are staff attorneys of the legislatively created public defender service. They are appointed by the court to represent defendants and are paid by the county, state or federal government.
[Last reviewed in August of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team
]
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Encyclopedia content from Cornell LII Wex (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5).
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.