Legal Definitions - indigency

Definition: The state or condition of a person who lacks the means of subsistence; extreme hardship or neediness; poverty. For purposes of the Sixth Amendment right to appointed counsel, indigency refers to a defendant's inability to afford an attorney.

Example: John was unable to pay for his basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. He was living in extreme poverty and was unable to afford an attorney to represent him in court. Therefore, he was considered indigent and was provided with a court-appointed attorney.

Explanation: The example illustrates the definition of indigency as it shows a person who lacks the means of subsistence and is living in extreme poverty. It also shows how indigency is related to the Sixth Amendment right to appointed counsel, where a defendant who cannot afford an attorney is provided with one by the court.