In order to use the public defender in Michigan, you must prove your eligibility through financial and asset records. If you qualify, the court will appoint an attorney to your case; you do not get to select the attorney, and except for the very rare occasion, you are stuck with this attorney.
You could be appointed an attorney with thirty years of experience, or an attorney fresh out of law school; you just don't know. When faced with serious criminal charges, most people feel more comfortable shopping around, and speaking to a number of attorneys prior to selecting the person who will represent them.
One misnomer is that the public defender is "free". This is not exactly true; if you plead guilty or are found guilty by a judge or jury, the judge will add the cost of using the public defender to your fines and costs associated with your sentence.
The good news is that you're not stuck with the public defender. Although the court will rarely substitute in another public defender, you always have the right to hire an attorney of your choice. Although hiring your own attorney will cost more money, some Michigan criminal defense attorneys will consider financial installment plans.
There are a lot of good public defenders out there, but there are also a lot of below average attorneys who could be appointed to your case. You don't get the choice, and you may not even know how good your attorney is until it is too late. Even a good public defender could have 200 other cases besides your file, and you will not be afforded the proper amount of time and attention that your case needs. By hiring a private attorney, you're not only able to pick your lawyer, you're also buying the right time and attention.
If you go to court, you will see the public defender calling out 35 different names of people he has never met. Do you really want to resolve your case the day you meet your public defender? By hiring a private attorney, you will have already had numerous conversations and meetings about your case, and your hired lawyer is not representing 35 other people in court that day.
You could be appointed an attorney with thirty years of experience, or an attorney fresh out of law school; you just don't know. When faced with serious criminal charges, most people feel more comfortable shopping around, and speaking to a number of attorneys prior to selecting the person who will represent them.
One misnomer is that the public defender is "free". This is not exactly true; if you plead guilty or are found guilty by a judge or jury, the judge will add the cost of using the public defender to your fines and costs associated with your sentence.
The good news is that you're not stuck with the public defender. Although the court will rarely substitute in another public defender, you always have the right to hire an attorney of your choice. Although hiring your own attorney will cost more money, some Michigan criminal defense attorneys will consider financial installment plans.
There are a lot of good public defenders out there, but there are also a lot of below average attorneys who could be appointed to your case. You don't get the choice, and you may not even know how good your attorney is until it is too late. Even a good public defender could have 200 other cases besides your file, and you will not be afforded the proper amount of time and attention that your case needs. By hiring a private attorney, you're not only able to pick your lawyer, you're also buying the right time and attention.
If you go to court, you will see the public defender calling out 35 different names of people he has never met. Do you really want to resolve your case the day you meet your public defender? By hiring a private attorney, you will have already had numerous conversations and meetings about your case, and your hired lawyer is not representing 35 other people in court that day.
