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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
These include law enforcement officers, corrections officers, public defenders, prosecutors and people who have received orders of protection, among others.
—Jill Cassidy, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
My career as an Air Force captain, state legislator and felony public defender has prepared me for this role in unique ways.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 27 Oct. 2024
In this photo released by the U.S. Attorney's Office Connecticut, seized counterfeit pills are displayed Sept. 5, 2024, in East Have, Ct. U.S. Attorney's Office Connecticut via AP
A federal public defender for Hinton did not immediately return an email seeking comment Monday.
—CBS News, 24 Sep. 2024
Kristy Militello, an assistant federal public defender representing Routh, asked during Monday’s hearing for Routh to be permitted to live with his sister in Greensboro, N.C., as the case moves forward.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2024
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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 17 Nov. 2024.
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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