public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office whose duty is to defend accused persons unable to pay for legal assistance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi appointed a public defender to represent Abston. 
CBS News, 6 Sep. 2022 Montesi appointed a Shelby County public defender to represent Abston. Mike Hayes, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi appointed a public defender to represent Abston. Adrian Sainz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi appointed a public defender to represent Abston. Adrian Sainz, ajc, 6 Sep. 2022 Circuit Judge Tom Cooper appointed a public defender to represent Duermit and set bail at $250,000, according to court documents. Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2022 Angel enlisted a public defender and spent months trying to negotiate a payment plan, but the eviction was granted in April of this year. jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2022 Haven’t had a public defender in these chambers since Thurgood Marshall. Fiona Landers, The New Yorker, 21 July 2022 Defendants facing felony charges are assessed $100 to use a public defender, as well as a $100 prosecution fee. Bianca Fortis, ProPublica, 21 July 2022 See More
CBS News, 6 Sep. 2022 Montesi appointed a Shelby County public defender to represent Abston. Mike Hayes, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi appointed a public defender to represent Abston. Adrian Sainz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi appointed a public defender to represent Abston. Adrian Sainz, ajc, 6 Sep. 2022 Circuit Judge Tom Cooper appointed a public defender to represent Duermit and set bail at $250,000, according to court documents. Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2022 Angel enlisted a public defender and spent months trying to negotiate a payment plan, but the eviction was granted in April of this year. jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2022 Haven’t had a public defender in these chambers since Thurgood Marshall. Fiona Landers, The New Yorker, 21 July 2022 Defendants facing felony charges are assessed $100 to use a public defender, as well as a $100 prosecution fee. Bianca Fortis, ProPublica, 21 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1822, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office who represents criminal defendants unable to pay for legal assistance
public defender
noun
as in district attorney
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- district attorney
- criminal lawyer
- trial lawyer
- prosecuting attorney
- prosecutor
- solicitor
- mouthpiece
- legal eagle
- solicitor
- cocounsel
- ambulance chaser
- lawyer
- attorney
- jurist
- counselor
- legislator
- advocate
- lawmaker
- counsellor
- counsel
- lawgiver
- counselor-at-law
- Philadelphia lawyer
- solon
- attorney-at-law
- shyster
- pettifogger
