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
Over nine years, Lyon was represented by three defense attorneys — a public defender, then private counsel, then a different public defender.
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Teri Figueroa, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
These types of roles typically require advanced degrees (such as law degrees for attorneys working as prosecutors or public defenders, or nursing degrees for nurses working in community health) but often pay much less than comparable private sector jobs.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The Will County public defender’s office, which is representing Brady, did not return a message seeking comment.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Gutierrez’s public defender said mental-health issues related to medication Gutierrez had been taking to help deal with seizures led her to kill her husband, while prosecutors said the stabbing followed a fight the couple had the previous night.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025
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Teri Figueroa, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
These types of roles typically require advanced degrees (such as law degrees for attorneys working as prosecutors or public defenders, or nursing degrees for nurses working in community health) but often pay much less than comparable private sector jobs.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The Will County public defender’s office, which is representing Brady, did not return a message seeking comment.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Gutierrez’s public defender said mental-health issues related to medication Gutierrez had been taking to help deal with seizures led her to kill her husband, while prosecutors said the stabbing followed a fight the couple had the previous night.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2025.
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