Legal Definitions - indigent defendant

Definition: An indigent defendant is a person who is too poor to afford a lawyer and, upon being charged with a crime, becomes eligible to receive assistance from a court-appointed attorney and a waiver of court costs. This means that the government will provide a lawyer for the defendant if they cannot afford one themselves.

Example: John is a homeless man who has been accused of stealing food from a grocery store. He cannot afford to hire a lawyer to defend himself in court. As an indigent defendant, he is eligible to receive a court-appointed attorney and a waiver of court costs.

Explanation: This example illustrates how an indigent defendant is someone who cannot afford a lawyer and needs assistance from the government to receive legal representation. John is too poor to hire a lawyer, so he is eligible for a court-appointed attorney and a waiver of court costs. This ensures that even those who cannot afford legal representation can still receive a fair trial.