Legal Definitions - court-appointed counsel

Court-appointed counsel refers to an attorney 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.

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

Another example is when a person is facing deportation and cannot afford to hire an immigration lawyer. The court may appoint an attorney to represent them in immigration court.

Court-appointed counsel is important because it ensures that everyone has access to legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. It helps to ensure that the legal system is fair and just for all.