What should i do to help my boyfriend.who is in jail.whos public defender does nothing with his case.
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What should i do to help my boyfriend.who is in jail.whos public defender does nothing with his case.
Asked on May 5, 2009 under Criminal Law, Georgia
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Court appointed attorneys are swamped. This happens all too often. But you have a case you need to get ready for. If your lawyer won't return your calls try going down to the office. Let them know you are not happy with things. Ask to speak to a supervisor and respectfully ask to meet with your attorney if possible. If not, you could then ask that another attorney be assigned to handle your case. Chances are this won't happen since they are all busy but it couldn't hurt. Either way the supervisorr won't want any headaches so chances are they will see to it that somebody meets with you or at least returns your calls.
J.M.A., Member in Good Standing of the Connecticut Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
I am a lawyer in CT, not GA, but I practice criminal defense work for a private firm. While in law school, I worked for a very busy public defender's office in CT. Public defenders deal with lots of files and usually do not have time to get to all the details a private lawyer can get to. It is frustrating, but the system is not perfect. When you say the lawyer is doing nothing, what do you mean? There are lots of proceedures and things to follow that take time and may be the reaosn why nothing has happened for awhile. On the other hand, the lawyer may not be doing anything to make a dent in the case to work a deal with the state. I dont have enough info as your statement is vague. If the lawyer is truly neglecting the case, you can ask the head public defender (the person in charge of the office there) to switch you to someone else as a result of a break down of the attorney client relationship. this is usually good grounds to get rid of your lawyer (i.e. lack of communication...). However, no one in the public defender's office likes to have to pick up in the middle of a case, especially where their new client fired their co-worker. Before you decide to go a different rout, i would find out more details about the case and what is going on, and then re-ask your question.
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