ASSIGNED COUNSEL Meaning and
Definition
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Assigned counsel refers to a legal arrangement where a lawyer is appointed by the court to provide legal representation for an individual who cannot afford their own attorney. This is typically done in criminal cases where the accused person is unable to secure their own private counsel due to financial limitations. Assigned counsel is appointed to ensure that the individual's constitutional right to legal representation is upheld.
The process of assigning counsel involves the court selecting an attorney from a pool of lawyers who are deemed qualified and competent to handle the case. These attorneys are often experienced in criminal defense and have been pre-approved by the court to take on such assignments. The court may consider various factors, such as the complexity of the case, the attorney's experience, and their availability, when assigning counsel.
Once assigned, the counsel's duty is to zealously represent the client's interests throughout the legal proceedings. They are obligated to provide effective and competent legal representation, including investigating the case, presenting evidences, cross-examining witnesses, filing necessary motions, and negotiating plea agreements if applicable. The assigned counsel acts as the client's advocate, ensuring that their rights are protected and their best interests are served.
Assigned counsel is an essential element of a fair and just legal system, as it helps to level the playing field by providing legal representation to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it. This system helps to uphold the principle that access to justice should not be determined by one's financial capabilities.
Common Misspellings for ASSIGNED COUNSEL
- zssigned counsel
- sssigned counsel
- wssigned counsel
- qssigned counsel
- aasigned counsel
- azsigned counsel
- axsigned counsel
- adsigned counsel
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- awsigned counsel
- asaigned counsel
- aszigned counsel
- asxigned counsel
- asdigned counsel
- aseigned counsel
- aswigned counsel
- assugned counsel
- assjgned counsel
- asskgned counsel
- assogned counsel
Etymology of ASSIGNED COUNSEL
The word "assigned counsel" is a legal term that refers to a lawyer or attorney who is appointed by the court to represent an individual who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer. The etymology of the term "assigned counsel" can be understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts.
1. Assigned: The word "assigned" comes from the Old French word "assigner" meaning "to allot" or "to give out". It can be traced back to the Latin word "assignare" which means "to mark out" or "to set in order".
2. Counsel: The word "counsel" comes from the Old French word "cunseil" which translates to "advice" or "deliberation". It further derives from the Latin word "consilium" meaning "advice" or "plan".
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