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What is a Public Defender?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
A public defender is a court-appointed attorney that is paid\nby the government to represent defendants that are incapable of affording\nprivate legal counsel. Generally, they are given to those facing jail time for\nmisdemeanor or felony charges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are Public Defenders Real Lawyers?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Although they are fully-qualified lawyers, public defenders\noften carry a stigma implying otherwise. They have the equivalent training and\nlicenses and extensive courtroom experience that private lawyers do. The major\ndifference between private and public defense is case load. Public defenders\nare usually much busier, and have multiple cases working at once, which takes\naway from the time they can put into to a person\u2019s defense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can Anyone Have a Public Defender?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
If a defendant opts for a public defender, one will be\nappointed to them until they can prove they are indigent. Eligibility\nrequirements for public defense varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Some\ncourts may require defendants to provide fee estimates from multiple private\nlaw firms, along with proof of financial records, to prove they cannot pay for\nprivate representation. While other courts simply take a defendant\u2019s word or\nallow them to choose regardless of how much they earn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Will I Be Offered a Public Defender?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
After an arrest, a court hearing called an arraignment will\nbe scheduled. This is a defendant\u2019s initial hearing in which their criminal\ncharges will be read to them by a judge, and then they will be asked to plead\n\u2018guilty\u2019 or \u2018not guilty\u2019 to their charges. For those with private counsel,\ntheir attorney will already be present. As for all others, the arraignment\nhearing is when a defendant will be given the opportunity to accept a public\ndefender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should I Choose Public Defense?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
For serious criminal charges, private representation is\nvital in order to get the personalized, one-on-one attention your case needs to\navoid the maximum penalties for your charges. Even for minor to moderate cases,\nprivate representation is a better choice because they can afford to dedicate 100\npercent of their time and attention to building a strong and impactful defense\nagainst your criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who Can I Trust for Private Criminal Defense in Indianapolis?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nContact David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514<\/strong> to start building a strong and impactful defense against your criminal charges so that you have a chance at avoiding the maximum penalties for your suspected crimes. Our Indianapolis criminal defense law firm<\/a> offers free initial consultations, so there is no out-of-pocket obligations to you. Get started protecting your future, today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When facing criminal charges in the United States, a defendant is given the privilege of choosing between public or private criminal defense. By opting for a public defender, a person is not obligated to pay for lawyer fees. But there … Continue reading
When facing criminal charges in the United States, a defendant is given the privilege of choosing between public or private criminal defense. By opting for a public defender, a person is not obligated to pay for lawyer fees. But there … Continue reading