public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office whose duty is to defend accused persons unable to pay for legal assistance
Examples of public defender in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The number of full-time criminal justice employees — including law enforcement, prosecutors, investigators, public defenders and probation officers — increased by 0.6%, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
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Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 2 July 2024
She was appointed a public defender to represent her, according to court records.
—CBS News, 29 June 2024
Former prosecutors outnumber public defenders 4 to 1, according to the National Association for Public Defense.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2024
Stallings was appointed a public defender during an initial court appearance on Thursday.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for public defender 
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 2 July 2024
She was appointed a public defender to represent her, according to court records.
—CBS News, 29 June 2024
Former prosecutors outnumber public defenders 4 to 1, according to the National Association for Public Defense.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2024
Stallings was appointed a public defender during an initial court appearance on Thursday.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for public defender
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'public defender.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Public defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20defender. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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