Getting arrested for a crime is a scary and intimidating event, but it does not mean that you will necessarily get charged with the crime you were arrested for. Instead, the court must go through a process to determine if they will pursue the charges on you. If they do pursue them, you will have the right to a trial and to a lawyer. If you feel that you do not have enough money to afford a lawyer, you could possibly get a public defender to help you; however, hiring a lawyer typically offers better results.
What is a public defender?
A public defender is a criminal lawyer that offers services for the state. According to the laws in this country, anyone who is charged with a crime has the legal right to have representation in the case. It is the Sixth Amendment that gives you this right, and this amendment offers other rights to you as well. If a person is not able to afford to hire a criminal defense lawyer, the state has the legal burden of assigning a lawyer to the person, and this lawyer is called a public defender. The state pays the public defender for the services offered so that the defendant in the case does not have to. Because the public defender is paid and is assigned by the court, he or she must offer solid legal counsel to the person.
How can you get a public defender?
When you are charged with a crime, you will appear before a judge during an initial hearing. During this hearing, the judge will ask you if you have a lawyer. If you do not, the judge will ask you if you want one because you have the legal right to have one. You do not have to say yes to this because you can represent yourself if you want to, but you should realize that you have the legal right to have a public defender assigned to you if you want legal assistance.
If you ask for a public defender, the judge will ask you a series of questions to find out if you qualify for one. These questions will relate to your job, income, and assets. If you earn too much money or have too many assets, you will not qualify for one. If this is the case, you would be required to hire a lawyer on your own if you want legal representation in your case.
Are public defenders as good as criminal lawyers?
The benefit of having a public defender is that you will have a lawyer that will assist you, yet you will not receive a bill for these services. Public defenders are required by law to represent their clients to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, though, public defenders often have heavy workloads, which means they do not typically have a lot of time to spend with their clients or on the cases they are working on. This often leaves defendants feeling uncertain about what to do or expect, primarily because they feel like they cannot talk to their lawyers as much as they would like when preparing for their upcoming court hearings.
Hiring your own lawyer is generally a better route to take if you can afford it. When you hire a criminal attorney, he or she will work hard on your case, which may help you receive a lighter charge or punishment for your charge. If you feel that hiring a lawyer yourself would be a better option for you, contact a criminal law firm to talk to a lawyer about your situation.
Share12 February 2019
When it comes to fighting in court, it isn't always easy to stay strong, stable, and secure in your convictions. Fortunately, by working with a great lawyer, things become much easier. About ten years ago now, I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit, and it was really heartbreaking. I started thinking about what to do, and a friend of mine suggested working with a great lawyer. It was incredible to see how much help the lawyer was, and within a few months, I was proven innocent. This blog is here to help people who might be fighting legal battles of their own.
