It depends on the lawyer. In the Hill Country there are several excellent lawyers who regularly get appointed to defend indigent clients. They have knowledge, skill and judgment and zealously represent their clients. They take pride in doing a good job. They know that judges, prosecutors and other lawyers are watching them. So are potential paying clients.
A lawyer who doesn't care or is incompetent can't practice very long before he or she gets into trouble with the courts or the grievance committee. Trial judges want lawyers who will provide effective assistance of counsel (required by the Constitution). No one wants to see an innocent person convicted. And by defending the guilty and making sure their constitutional rights are protected they help keep the system honest.
Most Hill Country court appointed lawyers also represent clients who retain them directly.
The federal courts require appointed lawyers to attend continuing legal education classes every year. They also have different levels of lawyers - the "A" list lawyers get the most serious felonies. There's a "B" list that gets appointed to misdemeanors and less serious felonies.
A lawyer who doesn't care or is incompetent can't practice very long before he or she gets into trouble with the courts or the grievance committee. Trial judges want lawyers who will provide effective assistance of counsel (required by the Constitution). No one wants to see an innocent person convicted. And by defending the guilty and making sure their constitutional rights are protected they help keep the system honest.
Most Hill Country court appointed lawyers also represent clients who retain them directly.
The federal courts require appointed lawyers to attend continuing legal education classes every year. They also have different levels of lawyers - the "A" list lawyers get the most serious felonies. There's a "B" list that gets appointed to misdemeanors and less serious felonies.
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