The courts
public defender
A government-funded lawyer for criminal defendants who cannot afford one. Required by the Constitution, and chronically underfunded in much of the country.
In full
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) held that states must provide counsel to indigent defendants facing felony charges, later extended to any case carrying jail time. Federal defenders and appointed panel attorneys serve federal courts; state systems vary from well-resourced offices to contract lawyers with unmanageable caseloads.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.