Should I just use the public defender?

Public defenders are frequently excellent lawyers with deep trial experience and detailed knowledge of local courts and prosecutors. The stereotype is unfair.

The real constraint is volume. Caseloads are heavy, which limits the time available per case regardless of ability. That affects investigation depth, deposition practice, and how much attention any single file receives.

Eligibility is required. You must qualify as indigent based on income and assets, determined through an application process with a fee.

Where the distinction matters most. Cases where collateral consequences dominate — immigration status, a professional license, sealing eligibility, firearm rights, employment. Those outcomes turn on details of how a case resolves, and they benefit from time spent on the resolution rather than just the sentence.

Where it matters less. Straightforward matters likely to resolve similarly either way.

An honest framing. A public defender is far better than no lawyer, and better than a retained attorney who won't do the work.