In my opinion, public defenders are nothing but a joke. they are there just to earn a goverment check. They are people we pay with our taxes just to sink us even deeper.
My friend was assigned a public defender in a drug related charge. The woman "Attorney" came 5 minutes before the court and when she was asked about my friend's case , she said "she didn't have time to read the charges". I asked her how was she going to defend him if she didn't know nothing about the case she responded "I hope the family hired a lawyer it will be better"
2007-04-20 15:11:16 · 8 answers · asked by Richard 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It all depends, the higher the profile the case is the more time that paticular lawyer will spend on that case. Public Defenders could also be private attorneys also. The only way those private attorneys will be given to a client is if all the public defenders lawyers are unable to take the case.
As for them doing a good job, acting as a public defender they have to take a certian pay for the case no matter how long it takes. And you may get lucky and get a lawyer who actually cares more about the client then what they get paid. But there are not many of those good hearted lawyers out there.
I know what you mean about the public defenders not doing there job. I met with my sons several times before court and when we went to court he forgot who he was and what he was defending him for.
So it all depends on the lawyers values to each client.
2007-04-20 15:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like every job there are those that are great and those that suck.
It is very, very common for an attorney not to know anything about the case at arraignments (the first court appearance). Usually a court appointed attorney is given the case right before the case is called. But at arraignments it is not necessary to be up on all the facts, you just have to get a general sense of the client and the charges and argue bail. It is the motion and trial stages that a good attorney will shine.
In my experince, there are more private attorney's that are bad then public defenders. Public defender's usually have more experience and know the judge and prosecutor better then a private attorney. But as with everything there are good ones and bad ones.
2007-04-20 15:25:37 · answer #2 · answered by strangedaze23 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Public defenders are poorly paid and overworked, but that is no excuse for ignoring you. Write a letter to the Judge concerning your poor representation. Do NOT discuss your case in the letter, but ask for another attorney. Also, in an attorney-client relationship, YOU are the boss. If you are not guilty or have a good defense, do not let the public defender talk you into doing something you do not wish to do. I have one other suggestion. Get together about $200 and go to a private criminal defense atty and pay for an hour's consultation. If you do that, you will learn whether you have a good defense. I have seen public defenders meet and talk with their clients for the first time only minutes before trial on many, many occasions. They then will try to talk you into a plea bargain or a guilty plea that is not in your best interests. Just because you can't afford a defense atty doesn't mean you can't see one for an opinion before trial. Despite their heavy case load, there is no excuse for ignoring a client or not returning phone calls.
2016-05-20 00:24:01 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All lawyers have shark fins in their backs. Just cos someone is a lawyer, and even a public defender, that doesn't predispose them to being good at what they do, or having a high success rate, or ensuring that the guilty are convicted and the innocent are not. The odds are the same as for any other person in any other profession. That's what happens when the human factor is involved.
2007-04-20 15:16:51 · answer #4 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's sad, because most public defenders are actually pretty decent. They do NOT get paid well, and generally pull a heavier workload than other attorneys. In fact, one of the public defenders in Pittsburg, PA is Harvard Law Graduate, who was in the top 10% of his class.
Also, your friend can indeed do something to keep anyone else from having to deal with her. Her behavior is unethical and she can be sanctioned by the state bar association. He should report her.
2007-04-20 15:49:27 · answer #5 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In defense of public defenders, many of them are really trying to help and are just too overworked. The system is overburdened, and often they literally do not have time to cover all of their cases. So yes, they often do a shoddy job, but it is often unavoidable.
2007-04-20 15:21:07 · answer #6 · answered by lockedjew 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When they screw your case up,you can file a complaint with your states supreme court disciplinary commission,then you can sue them for legal malpractice.I just did that myself,represented myself,and I WON $1500.00 !! Plus the incompitent jerk got suspended for 60 days.
2007-04-20 15:19:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Public defenders are lawyers that nobody else will pay for...
2007-04-20 15:17:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋