Legal Definitions - dump-truck lawyer

Definition: A dump-truck lawyer is a public defender who is perceived to spend little time or effort and exhibit little skill in mounting a defense on behalf of an indigent defendant. This derogatory term arises from criminal defendants' common perception that public defenders prefer to dump cases by making plea bargains rather than spend time preparing for trial.

• After being assigned a public defender, the defendant felt like he had a dump-truck lawyer because the lawyer didn't seem to be putting in much effort to defend him.
• The defendant accused his public defender of being a dump-truck lawyer because the lawyer was pushing for a plea bargain instead of going to trial.

These examples illustrate how the term "dump-truck lawyer" is used to describe a public defender who is perceived to be lazy or ineffective in defending their client. The term implies that the lawyer is simply dumping the case by making a plea bargain instead of putting in the time and effort to prepare for trial.