Meaning of public pretender | Babel Free

Definitions

A public defender, viewed as inadequate.

derogatory, slang

Examples

“They tell⟳ me I'm due a fair trial, but they give⟳ me a public defender (or should I say⟳ public pretender?) that has four times his normal case load⟳. So no matter⟳ how I feel⟳ or what I think⟳, I'm forced to put⟳ all my faith in this public pretender and hope⟳ he hasn't sold me out too badly.”

“Felipe defiantly describes what he saw⟳ in jail: "There were young guys... with 700-1,000 pounds [of marijuana]. My case, by comparison, was peanuts. It is all about money in El Paso—if you have⟳ the money, you get⟳ off; if you have⟳ a good lawyer, you get⟳ off. It's all about your lawyer. The people without money have⟳ to get⟳ a 'public pretender.'"”

“Are you saying that you want⟳ a free lawyer? […] Without me, they're gonna lock⟳ you up and throw⟳ away the key. I'm sorry, did I say⟳ "five years"? You go ahead and play⟳ Russian roulette with a public pretender, you're gonna end⟳ up doing a decade in Los Lunas!”

CEFR level