assigned counsel

noun

1. any private lawyer designated by a city or county court to represent indigent defendants in criminal cases at public expense.

Example Sentences

One of the reasons that states have moved away from exclusively using assigned counsel systems is because it is difficult to supervise private attorneys.

From ProPublica

The court assigned a lawyer to defend her, but like many assigned counsel he couldn't think of anything to say in her behalf.

From Project Gutenberg

Following the advice of his assigned counsel, he pleaded guilty.

From Project Gutenberg