Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: right to a public defender

The parents of an adult child are not required to pay for an attorney -- but good parents do help. You wouldn't want your kid to go to court with only the public defender -- they will plead him guilty, he'll have a record and he'll probably never work again.

Re: right to a public defender

No one is ever required to hire a private lawyer, adult or not. A criminal defendant who does not have the means to retain private counsel should be entitled to have a public defender appointed to represent him or her.

That said, hiring a private lawyer is generally a good idea. Public defenders tent to be overworked and generally they do not have the time or focus to devote sufficient amount of time to each and every case.

Very best,

Jacek W. Lentz, Esq.

310.273.1361

www.lentzlawfirm.com

Re: right to a public defender

If they are an adult then the parents would not be responsible for legal fees of a private attorney, but it certainly makes sense if the adult child cannot pay on their own that the parents if they can should help as the consequences can be severe and long lasting.