Typically, public defenders are reserved for those defendants who cannot afford to hire a private criminal defense attorney. Even if you are eligible to have a public defender appointed to represent you, having a private attorney offers several advantages over a public defender. Although many public defenders are skilled advocates, they often must deal with heavy caseloads. That means a public defender may not be able to devote as much time and resources to your case as a private attorney can. A public defender will provide you with effective legal representation, but a private attorney is more likely to leave no stone unturned in trying to get you the best possible result in your case.