Do you think people with private lawyers get off easier than people with court appointed ones? Why or why not?
2007-12-09 17:55:33 · 9 answers · asked by puffer fish 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I have heard of people hiring a court appointed lawyer by paying them and then they do work for you. It just all depends. I had a private lawyer and he lost my case, not only that, it seemed as if he really didn't care. He was doing it for the money I guess. I have known people who had no choice but to have a court appointed lawyer and they got sent to jail. I did know one guy who hired a court appointed lawyer as a private lawyer for himself and he w0n his case. I guess the court wanted his money. It is all about the money. If you have it you will walk out free, no matter what you do.
2007-12-09 19:24:47 · answer #1 · answered by Dakota Lynn Takes Gun 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. As a general rule public defenders are the most experienced defense lawyers in any jurisdiction.
They know the DA's and the judges better than any of the private lawyers, because they work with them more often.
95% of a PD's clients get convicted though, because at least that many of them ARE guilty.
The big advantage to hiring your own lawyer (unless you're rich enough to hire a "dream team") is that - since you're paying him - he'll find time to give you a degree of "hand-holding" that a PD can't spare the time for.
The primary reason that PD's try to get most of their clients to plead out is that most of their clients are guilty - and will be better off taking a plea to a reduced charge than going to trial and having a judge hand down the maximum sentence on the full charge.
Where I work there are three types of defense lawyers. First, PD's, who're either very experienced, or have their more experienced colleagues to lean on. Second, highly skilled and VERY expensive private CD lawyers that the vast majority of people can't afford, and third, inexperienced - but inexpensive - private lawyers who're doing criminal defense under their own shingle because they weren't good enough to get hired by a big lawfirm.
Richard
2007-12-09 17:59:53 · answer #2 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My dad got an appointed lawyer all he did was show up for sentencing, so i would say a private lawyer for sure
2007-12-10 02:25:11 · answer #3 · answered by hernan-jacob@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think people who have private lawyers always get a better deal. There is more at stake for them. They are more willing to fight because the longer they are in court, the more they get paid. Also, if they win... their reputation gets a boost and they are more apt to get future clients by word of mouth.
Court appointed lawyers don't depend on winning to get the next job. They would prefer to "plead out" almost everything. It isn't in their best interest to drag it out because they don't get paid any more for working those extra hours.
I have been to court for myself only once and I used a court appointed lawyer because it was such a minuscule offense. I watched her try to push me through the system without even fighting it. I had a case but she urged me to plead out. In the end she won and I did my community service. For me it was no big deal but if it were something major... I would want to get a private lawyer.
EDIT: My charge was "loud and aggressive conduct." (Hows that for a BS Charge) it fell under the heading of disturbing the peace. I was only charged with it because the guy I was being loud with, HIT ME and there were no witnesses so if I were to press charges for him hitting me, the police had to come up with some dumb charge for me. Any Lawyer worth his salt should have been able to defend that!
2007-12-09 18:01:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That will be up to the judge. Refusing a court appointed attorney isn't necessarlily a waiver of counsel. Check with the PDs office or the court clerk. Do expect to be made to jump through more than the usual number of hoops, though. The judge may look at you as wasting the court's time; that's not a good thing...
2016-05-22 10:42:34 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a private atty if you can afford one. If you are looking at serious time or a bad rep, a paid atty will take the time to do what it takes to help. A court appointed atty will rarely have enough time to put into the case.
2014-02-17 07:30:14 · answer #6 · answered by SUSIE 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, court appointed lawyers work with the prosecutors, it seems like a conflict of interest ...doesn't it? Bottom line is if you don't have money to hire a real lawyer you are screwed.
2007-12-09 18:01:04 · answer #7 · answered by Matt D 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
definately private lawyers in my opinion
2007-12-09 18:00:54 · answer #8 · answered by spy m @ beijing 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In my one experience the Public Defenders were lazy and just wanted to plea bargin and the one that was hired worked.
2007-12-09 18:06:08 · answer #9 · answered by Simian Menace 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋