Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Public Defender vs. Private Attorney

What is the difference if someone uses a Public Defender verses a privately paid attorney? I have heard that a Public Defender really dont have your best interest at heart because they have so many cases and because they are pretty chummy with the District Attorney, and want to give convictions to the DA. Is a privately paid attorney better to use to obtain more positive results?


Asked on 12/15/03, 4:04 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Public Defender vs. Private Attorney

Public defenders are generally very good attorneys and they do not compromise their clients' interests because of any relationship with the prosecutors. As you say, though, they are overworked and they often don't have nearly as much time to put into a case as a private attorney would have.

Private attorneys will only be able to give you their time if you are able to pay for it, but hiring a private attorney will often result in a more thorough defense.

Some private criminal defense attorneys are very good and others are not (the same is true of all types of attorneys), so don't assume that a lawyer will do a good job for you just because he or she is in private practice.

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Answered on 12/15/03, 1:49 pm


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