Legal Question in Criminal Law in Montana

Re: Public Defenders

Of course. I am a public defender and I can assure you I work every bit as hard for my public defense clients as I do for my private clients. My opinion is that a client who has the means should hire the lawyer of their choice and I'm not offended if its not me. Just heard a story today of a client who left his public defender for a private attorney. The PD was speaking of a deal where the client would plead to the 10 year felony and have the 20 year felony dismissed. Client didn't like that and hired private counsel who got the 10 year felony dismissed and the client pleaded to the 20 year felony. As in my example, many times the client will be better served with a public defender. This may not be true everywhere, but I believe that is the case in the jurisdiction where I practice.