Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Can I be asked to plead before given the right to consult a public defender?

I was arrested for Felony Domestic Violence one

Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.) and spent 3 days in jail

before I was brought before a Judge (Tuesday 2:30

p.m.).

The Judge explained that the D.A. had dropped the

charges to Corporal Domestic Violence. I was then

asked to plead before given an opportunity to consult a

public defender. I plead guilty, thinking it would end the

whole ordeal for me and I could get back to living my

life. The judge refused to OR me but lowered my bail

from $30,000 to $10,000. I borrowed the money from

my mother and made bond at 3:20 p.m. I was ordered

to appear in court the next morning at 9:05 and made

that appointment. When my name was called the Judge

asked me why I had not yet had a Public Defender. I

explained that I was bailed out the afternoon before and

never given an opportunity to consult with one yet.

My question is do I not have the right to see a lawyer

before being asked to plead?

2 Answers from Attorneys

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