In Florida, the Public defender system is still quite overloaded. Hiring a private attorney is going to allow you the ability to work one on one with a person that you have a higher level of comfort with. As the client, you have the ability to choose the attorney you’re going to be working with, whereas with the Public Defender, they are appointed to you. They don’t get an opportunity to choose their clients, but you certainly, with the Public Defender, do not get the ability to choose which attorney you like.
Again, with a private attorney you have the ability to research their background, their qualifications, and make that decision on your own.