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
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Vicki Brambl, an assistant federal public defender in Tucson, Arizona, says certain risk factors—like a prior criminal history, drug use or growing up in a low-income household—can increase the likelihood someone will get involved with smuggling.
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Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
El Dorado Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder, who is prosecuting the case against McFarlin, said in court that her office was responding to a large request from McFarlin’s public defender, Tim Pappas, for evidence gathered during the investigation.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Role as federal public defender Nachmanoff formerly served as a federal public defender from 2002 to 2015.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Brown’s public defender in that case requested an evaluation of his mental competency.
—Mary Ramsey
updated September 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
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Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
El Dorado Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder, who is prosecuting the case against McFarlin, said in court that her office was responding to a large request from McFarlin’s public defender, Tim Pappas, for evidence gathered during the investigation.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Role as federal public defender Nachmanoff formerly served as a federal public defender from 2002 to 2015.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Brown’s public defender in that case requested an evaluation of his mental competency.
—Mary Ramsey
updated September 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for public defender
Cite this Entry
“Public defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20defender. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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