ridiculouschin
Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland
Years ago I was involved in an altercation at a store when I was 18 (I'm 26 now), I was originally charged with 1st and 2nd degree assault. I pulled a knife on a man significantly larger on myself who backed me into a corner after a dispute with his wife over cutting in line. I went to the public defender.
The public defender insisted that I was indeed guilty of the crime, despite my articulation that I desired him to argue an affirmative defense on my behalf on the grounds of I believed I acted in self-defense. The attorney refused to do so again insisting I allow him to approach the ADA about a plea bargain. I dismissed this attorney who did not represent me at trial in order to be permitted to speak with the district attorney on my own behalf.
Ultimately the charges were nolle prosequi and a probation before judgment for possession of a spring-bladed knife (which are illegal in MD) as the ADA agreed with me upon reviewing a surveillance video from the store that while I acted stupidly, in self-defense none-the-less.
My question is, (again mainly out of curiosity as this issue is years behind me). What obligation does a public defender have to defend their clients in a way they insist? I've always thought that of this as a great injustice against me to not have proper legal representation at a trial which could have easily put me behind bars for many years.
Years ago I was involved in an altercation at a store when I was 18 (I'm 26 now), I was originally charged with 1st and 2nd degree assault. I pulled a knife on a man significantly larger on myself who backed me into a corner after a dispute with his wife over cutting in line. I went to the public defender.
The public defender insisted that I was indeed guilty of the crime, despite my articulation that I desired him to argue an affirmative defense on my behalf on the grounds of I believed I acted in self-defense. The attorney refused to do so again insisting I allow him to approach the ADA about a plea bargain. I dismissed this attorney who did not represent me at trial in order to be permitted to speak with the district attorney on my own behalf.
Ultimately the charges were nolle prosequi and a probation before judgment for possession of a spring-bladed knife (which are illegal in MD) as the ADA agreed with me upon reviewing a surveillance video from the store that while I acted stupidly, in self-defense none-the-less.
My question is, (again mainly out of curiosity as this issue is years behind me). What obligation does a public defender have to defend their clients in a way they insist? I've always thought that of this as a great injustice against me to not have proper legal representation at a trial which could have easily put me behind bars for many years.