Congratulations.
You still have to pay your own legal fees even if found not guilty? That's... medieval.
i think a public defender is still free .......usually some useless wimp that will agree with the prosocution case
and recommend you take the plea bargain
if you want a top notch lawyer that will fight your case tooth and nail and spend days doing research ,i think that
comes out of your own pocket which is kinda shit if you cant afford decent legal represantation
One of the few great things about going though these types of experiences is some of the people you meet in your journey.
I was introduced to an amazing former attorney here in Boulder that practiced law for over 50 years. The storied he can tell! Check out his blogs if you get a chance.
https://denniscomments.wordpress.com/Anyway he told me all about public defenders. Follow the money.
They do not work for you. Here is an example of his writings on that specific subject:
Re: Poor Representation by a Public Defender
The difference between private and public attorneys is one of philosophy and advocacy. To be an advocate, one must not judge. However, PDs define their job as protecting rights rather than actually representing a person. They have little concept of attorney-client relationship nor of the obligation to be both an attorney and counselor. Since they are in a particular courtroom all the time, they have to "get along" and become part of the bureaucracy, processing cases rather than defending "clients". This situation is a political one, not a legal one. A grievance should not be filed against the PD, but against the Supreme Court and legislature for structuring such an unfair system. The result of commidification and marketing services, together with the concept of "specialization" has all but precluded citizen involvement in the court system.
The fault lies with the electorate and the lack of information or care of the public. The problem is with criminalization of poverty and social problems, relying upon threats, fear and incarceration instead of compassion and logic.
SourceThe just-a-system is so broken to the core it may be beyond repair. The plea bargaining process has destroyed the core concept "adversary". My first law firm never even considered the idea of going to court - their job as they see it is to get you the best plea deal possible. They assumed from the start that I was guilty and everything they did was based on that assumption. Civil asset forfeiture has destroyed the constitutional checks and balances. I could go on for pages and Dennis does in his blogs, much more eloquently than I can. I plan to read everything he has written there as I get time.