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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
Boyd, who is from Charlotte, appeared in court with his public defender on Thursday, where details of the previous night’s events were shared.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025
Nevertheless, in November Elizabeth Bourdon, his public defender, successfully delayed proceedings in the murder case after requesting additional time to reevaluate him.
—Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2025
Michelle Peterson, his federal public defender, confirmed Tuesday he is set to be released, but declined further comment.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Orange County’s public defender’s office estimated more than 50 felony trials, most of them homicide cases, were tainted and affected by the snitch scandal.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1822, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near public defender
Cite this Entry
“Public defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20defender. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Legal Definition
public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office who represents criminal defendants unable to pay for legal assistance
More from Merriam-Webster on public defender
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for public defender
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about public defender
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