Criminal defense lawyer
Encyclopedia
A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer
specializing in the defense
of individuals and companies charged with criminal conduct
. Criminal defense lawyers can be permanently employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts. Such lawyers are often called public defender
s. For a much more extensive discussion of criminal defense, see public defender
. The terminology is imprecise because each jurisdiction may have different practices with various levels of input from state and federal law or consent decree
s. Other jurisdictions use a rotating system of appointments with judges appointing a private practice attorney or firm for each case.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
specializing in the defense
Defense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
of individuals and companies charged with criminal conduct
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
. Criminal defense lawyers can be permanently employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts. Such lawyers are often called public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
s. For a much more extensive discussion of criminal defense, see public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
. The terminology is imprecise because each jurisdiction may have different practices with various levels of input from state and federal law or consent decree
Consent decree
A consent decree is a final, binding judicial decree or judgment memorializing a voluntary agreement between parties to a suit in return for withdrawal of a criminal charge or an end to a civil litigation...
s. Other jurisdictions use a rotating system of appointments with judges appointing a private practice attorney or firm for each case.