Legal Question in Criminal Law in Arizona

A public defender can be appointed by the courts of Arizona if the defendant is charged with a felony and qualifies as indigent. As to a misdemeanor charge, the court will appoint the public defender if there is a likelihood of incarceration upon conviction, and the defendant is found to be indigent.

Defendants that are determined not to be indigent will need to retain counsel without the benefit of the court appointed public defender.