How appointment works
If you cannot afford counsel, the court appoints one — usually the county public defender, or an alternate or panel attorney where the public defender has a conflict. The court makes a financial eligibility determination, and in some cases orders partial reimbursement. You do not have to be destitute to qualify.
Honest comparison
| Public defender | Private attorney | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free or partially reimbursed | Retainer, often several thousand and up |
| Courthouse knowledge | Excellent — they are in that building daily | Varies with the attorney |
| Caseload | High; less time per client | Lower by design |
| Availability between hearings | Limited | Usually much better |
| Choice of attorney | Assigned | You choose |
| Trial experience | Often extensive | Varies widely |
When paying is worth it
- Complex or document-heavy cases — fraud, white collar, multi-defendant conspiracies.
- Cases where immigration consequences turn on the exact plea, which requires careful negotiation.
- Professional licensing exposure, where the collateral consequences dwarf the criminal ones.
- Cases where you need someone reachable between court dates, including for bail issues.