For criminal defendants unable to afford legal counsel, the court should appoint an attorney with experience commensurate with the nature of the charge and appoint such counsel timely and early in the process to effectively aid in preparation for trial (or a plea bargain) to ensure a just outcome. Also, compensation for court appointed lawyers needs to be fair and reasonable. For all defendants, judges should ensure that the defendant’s lawyer timely receive discovery per the Code of Criminal Procedure. Criminal cases handled expediently can help assure a just result for defendants and justice for the victims where applicable.