asking for friend... but is there a major difference between using a court appointed attorney rather than hiring one?

Claude! said:

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There are a lot of great public defenders, and there are a lot of really bad private defense attorneys. But as with many things in life, you often get what you pay for.

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Is this legal advice?

Court appointed also have limited resources.

A haiku of thought -

do not go cheaply
into the night when freedom
is upon your soul

A limerick


There once was an old man named Bill
Who liked to run up a tall, steep hill.
But, when someone inquired:
Bill, don't you ever get tired?
He said: "Nah."

What happened to the thread with the guy *****ing about how his court appointed attorneys screwed him over? Or something like that. Was a month or so ago.

Price doesn't usually matter. Find someone who sounds likes she is fighting for you, see how often she wants to discuss the case with you, does he/she quickly outline a defense strategy, and finally do they actually know the law (you'd be surprised how confidently that can totally miss the basic elements of a law)? OVERRATED usually.
Engineers are typical of much higher IQ than lawyers. Could an engineer do law school - absolutely but how would a law student fare in junior/senior tough engineering classes? Just because they use technical jargon don't be impressed. It's just legal speak. I know a guy who flunked out of engineering school and became an attorney. Your average attorney is WAY overrated. Do they listen to your strategies. Many will be overworked and your case will get little if any of their attention.

Zaphod said:

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asking for friend... but is there a major difference between using a court appointed attorney rather than hiring one?

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Chat GPT:

Yes, there can be significant differences between using a court-appointed attorney and hiring one privately.

1. **Cost**: One of the most notable differences is cost. A court-appointed attorney is provided by the government if you cannot afford to hire your own. In contrast, hiring a private attorney means you're responsible for their fees, which can vary widely depending on their experience, reputation, and the complexity of your case.

2. **Experience and Expertise**: While court-appointed attorneys are often competent, they may be handling numerous cases simultaneously, which can limit the time and attention they can dedicate to your case. On the other hand, hiring a private attorney allows you to choose someone with specific expertise relevant to your case and who can give it their full attention.

3. **Workload and Caseload**: Court-appointed attorneys are usually assigned cases by the court, and they may have heavy caseloads, leading to less time to devote to each case. Private attorneys generally have more control over their workload and can prioritize your case accordingly.

4. **Quality of Representation**: Private attorneys may be more motivated to achieve the best possible outcome for you because they depend on their reputation and client satisfaction for future business. Court-appointed attorneys are also motivated to provide competent representation, but the incentive structure can be different.

5. **Communication and Accessibility**: With a private attorney, you typically have more direct access to them and can communicate more freely about your case. Court-appointed attorneys may have limited availability due to their workload or office policies.

6. **Confidentiality**: Hiring a private attorney ensures that all communications between you and your lawyer are confidential. While court-appointed attorneys are also bound by attorney-client confidentiality, some people may feel more comfortable discussing sensitive matters with a private attorney.

Ultimately, whether to use a court-appointed attorney or hire one privately depends on your financial situation, the complexity of your case, and your personal preferences regarding the level of attention and expertise you want for your defense.

Ginormus Ag said:

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What happened to the thread with the guy *****ing about how his court appointed attorneys screwed him over? Or something like that. Was a month or so ago.

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https://texags.com/forums/12/topics/3457502/replies/67455617

Found him!

In what I've seen (movies and TV) court-appointed attorneys are usually disorganized, confused about what case they're presenting, and appear to think all their clients should plead out so they don't have to actually argue the case.

My sister is a public defender (not criminal) and is remarkably smart but I hate the career she chose for herself.

One is like a copperhead, the other like a rattlesnake. Neither should you associate with any more than you absolutely have to. If their boat is sinking, pretend you didn't see it.

It depends.

Glad to see its still fun to do bad things.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Perhaps stop breaking the law and none of this matters.

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Prosecutors would love to have you on the jury...

"If he isn't guilty, then why was he arrested?"

permabull said:

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Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Perhaps stop breaking the law and none of this matters.

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Prosecutors would love to have you on the jury...

"If he isn't guilty, then why was he arrested?"

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I've had to sit in jury pools a few times (never been selected as I fit a category that gets struck all the time) and in small talk with others sitting around, you've got several camps with their thoughts and there is a pretty sizable one that thinks that way.

Short answer: like others have said, you usually get what you pay for. There are certainly some excellent public defenders out there but a good many of them are underpaid and overworked. It may well be the difference between being represented by Lionel Hutz or the Blue Haired Lawyer.

I think the best tip is to request a male attorney in either case.

Better call Saul

I love this schtick. I really am starting to wonder if your wife left you for a lawyer.

Manslaughter/Murder pay the coin. Misdemeanor WGAF.

They're all honest. No need to lock your door, they won't take a thing.