Public defenders have the same role as criminal defense attorneys in the private sector but their existence is testimony to the law's compelling interest in providing due process and counsel to those who cannot afford private representation. Criminal defense attorneys, public or private, protect the rights of the accused. They also thereby protect the rights of the innocent. Our laws and our judiciary prevent the tyranny that government could exercise through its prosecutorial powers. Our legal system stands guard against the oppression and tyranny that rack other countries.
Attorneys play a vital role in providing equal protection under the law to all.
They serve as guardians ad litem to protect the interests of children caught in the middle of unfortunate circumstances. They are appointed to represent those who are alleged or adjudged incompetent. In some jurisdictions, in order to practice their profession, they accept appointments to protect the civil rights of individuals unable to afford the services of a lawyer. They donate innumerable hours of public service to their communities, their churches and synagogues, and their favorite charitable causes. They also believe that there is no true democracy or freedom in this nation without equal access to justice for the poor.