Ankeny, IA asked in Criminal Law for Illinois

Q: During my first appearance on felony drug possession charges i was denied a court appointed attorney. Can i ask again?

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3 Lawyer Answers

A: There is an old adage: There is no harm in asking.

Have you shopped for one to determine if you can afford the fees?

Juan Ooink and Tim Akpinar agree with this answer

1 user found this answer helpful

A: The Judge should have had you complete an affidavit of assets and liabilities, which if you did and it shows you can afford an attorney, a Public Defender will never be appointed. You really should call around to see if you can afford an attorney. Typically, if the Judge does not appoint the Public Defender on the first Court appearance, it is for a good reason.

A: Absolutely. Some Judges may ask if there has been a change in circumstance since the last request. In ANY felony case, you absolutely need an attorney no matter what. The judge knows this as well but wants to have you look for private counsel usually based on your income.

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