Q: Are public defenders really on your (the defendant) side?
I have a feeling that my current PD is the reason I got picked up on a really old warrant back from 2021. I say this because before I told him about it I never got arrested for it I’ve had multiple interactions with police and was even released from jail with this warrant. I only found out about it because I applied for DoorDash and they did a background check. I asked a previous PD on a different case back when I first found out and she said she’s never seen anything like it when she ran my name it was clear but digging deeper it was there. That was 2 years ago now I tell my current PD and within a week I’m pulled over and arrested for it. I want to know if it is possible to find out if he brought it to attention because if so I want to get a new public defender I don’t trust that he has my best interests in mind. I have court this morning and don’t know what to do it’s my omnibus hearing. It’s for aggregated theft $1000-$5000 felony. I’m not a felon yet and don’t want to be
A: Yes, public defenders are really on your side. You public defender most certainly DID NOT notify law enforcement that you had a warrant. Who knows why the warrant showed up this time, but I am confident that your public defender didn't have anything to do with it. They aren't going to assign a different public defender, so your options are to stick with the one you have; represent yourself; or hire a private attorney.
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
A: Public Defenders are really on the defendant's side. Loyalty to the client is the first rule of Professional Responsibility. Lawyers are not required to report on clients with a warrant. Rather than focus too much on how an old warrant was executed and cleared by arrest, I'd shift focus towards defending the case, and achieving a positive outcome. Discuss those with your lawyer.
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
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