Within the complex criminal justice system, a defense attorney serves as the defendant's guide, protector, and confidant. (At least that's how it's supposed to be.) Defense attorneys are usually grouped into two camps: court-appointed attorneys paid by the government and private attorneys paid by the defendant.
Some criminal defendants can afford to hire a private criminal defense attorney. For those who cannot afford an attorney (approximately 80% of all criminal defendants), the court may appoint counsel to represent the defendant (assuming certain qualifications are met). These court-appointed attorneys are either public defenders who are on government salary, or they are so-called "panel attorneys," local attorneys chosen from a panel. A small fraction of criminal defendants (approximately 2%) represent themselves and are referred to as "pro se" or "pro per" defendants.
Criminal defense attorneys (private and court-appointed) research the facts, investigate the case against their clients, and try to negotiate deals with their adversaries (prosecutors). These deals might include reduced bail, reduced charges, and reduced sentences. Because of a number of factors—political and public pressure, overcrowded jails, and overloaded court calendars—deal-making has grown in importance and has become an essential element in unclogging the criminal legal system.
Criminal defense attorneys also examine witnesses, help formulate a plea, analyze the prosecutor's case, assess the potential sentences (and the likelihood of a particular judge awarding such a sentence), review search-and-seizure procedures, and gather evidence. Defense counsel can also advise on potential immigration consequences or other consequences of a plea, conviction, or criminal record.
Defense counsel also provides more personal services by giving the defendant a reality check as to the possible outcomes and by helping the defendant to deal with the frustrations and fears resulting from being thrown into the criminal justice system. And of course, if no plea deal can be made, the defense lawyer represents the defendant at trial.
A huge factor when it comes to legal representation is the defendant's financial status and whether the defendant can afford private counsel. Private criminal defense attorneys charge either on an hourly basis (expect to pay $150 an hour or higher) or by a fixed or set fee. They are prohibited from charging contingency fees, which are payments that depend on the outcome of the case.
If the defendant is indigent (cannot afford private counsel), the court may appoint a government-paid public defender or panel attorney. Some—but not many—folks have enough money so that paying for a lawyer isn't a financial strain. But arranging for legal representation often isn't as straightforward for those who fall in between these groups of people.
The bottom line for judges is that the right to free (government-paid) defense counsel generally kicks in whenever an indigent defendant faces a jail or prison sentence. If there is no possibility of incarceration—for example, a judge states on the record that she will not sentence the defendant to jail time—then the defendant might not be entitled to free counsel (depending on state law).
Note that the right to free representation does not mean a right to the lawyer of choice. A defendant who's been appointed counsel normally doesn't get to pick and choose in the way that a paying defendant does.
Defendants sometimes believe that private attorneys possess a distinct advantage over the overworked public defender's office or panel attorneys who are paid a minimum fee. But do private attorneys provide better representation than court-appointed government-paid defense counsel?
Many private attorneys are former prosecutors or public defenders. Based on studies that evaluate the outcomes of having a private versus court-appointed attorney, data seems to indicate that the results for defendants are often the same. For example, one study indicated that defendants represented by private counsel and public defenders fared similarly in conviction rates and sentencing (although those represented by panel attorneys fared worse).
Such statistical evidence is not always reliable or clear because of complicating factors. For instance, clients represented by private counsel often have short or no prior criminal records, while indigent defendants are twice as likely to be repeat offenders. What is also unclear—and what creates one of the biggest uncertainties of the criminal justice system—is whether private attorneys can negotiate better plea deals than court-appointed counsel.
Ultimately, the experience, skills, and commitment of the particular attorney at hand—regardless of whether he or she is a public defender, panel attorney, or private lawyer—are the best indicator of the quality of the representation.
What is clear is that being represented by a lawyer is almost always the best option. Nevertheless, some criminal defendants represent themselves. The decision of whether a defendant can self-represent is ultimately made by the judge, not the defendant. The judge is required to determine the defendant's competency. That's because a defendant who cannot provide a competent defense cannot get a fair shake, even if the defendant is adamant about not accepting the services of a court-appointed attorney. When determining whether a defendant can go pro se, a judge will consider factors such as:
When looking for a private defense attorney, look for an attorney who specializes in criminal defense and practices in the jurisdiction (city or county) where charges are pending. A local attorney will be familiar with the judges and prosecutors in that area. Learn more in our article on what to look for in a private criminal defense attorney. You can also find more information on our home page, www.criminaldefenselawyer.com.
If you don't have the financial resources to pay for an attorney, you will typically need to ask for court-appointed counsel (before or at one of your first court hearings) and fill out paperwork on your financial resources. Learn more in our article on public defender representation.