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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The commission would determine metrics regarding public defender offices, caseloads, staffing and resources.
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Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
Hadi Matar, right, charged with severely injuring author Salman Rushdie in a 2022 knife attack, stands next to public defender Nathaniel Barone in Chautauqua County court in Mayville, N.Y., Feb. 21, 2025.
—CBS News, 16 May 2025
Matar’s public defender, Nathaniel Barone, pushed for a 12-year sentence, pointing to his client’s clean criminal record.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2025
English’s federal public defender, Maria Jacob, didn’t immediately return McClatchy News’ request for comment.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
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Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
Hadi Matar, right, charged with severely injuring author Salman Rushdie in a 2022 knife attack, stands next to public defender Nathaniel Barone in Chautauqua County court in Mayville, N.Y., Feb. 21, 2025.
—CBS News, 16 May 2025
Matar’s public defender, Nathaniel Barone, pushed for a 12-year sentence, pointing to his client’s clean criminal record.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2025
English’s federal public defender, Maria Jacob, didn’t immediately return McClatchy News’ request for comment.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 9 May 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 27 May. 2025.
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