Legal Definitions - court-appointed attorney

A court-appointed attorney is a lawyer who is assigned by the court to represent a person who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer. This is usually done in criminal cases where the defendant is indigent. The court pays the attorney's fees.

For example, if someone is arrested and charged with a crime but cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint an attorney to represent them. This attorney is known as a court-appointed attorney.

Another example is if a child is taken away from their parents and placed in foster care. The parents may be assigned a court-appointed attorney to help them navigate the legal system and try to regain custody of their child.

Court-appointed attorneys are important because they ensure that everyone has access to legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. This helps to ensure that the legal system is fair and just for all.