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Simple English definitions for legal terms
indigent defendant
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A quick definition of indigent defendant:
Indigent defendant: A person who is too poor to pay for a lawyer and is eligible to receive help from a court-appointed attorney and a waiver of court costs when they are accused of a crime. This is also known as being "in forma pauperis." It is different from being a pauper, which means being extremely poor in general.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: An indigent defendant is a person who is too poor to afford a lawyer and, upon being charged with a crime, becomes eligible to receive assistance from a court-appointed attorney and a waiver of court costs. This means that the government will provide a lawyer for the defendant if they cannot afford one themselves.
Example: John is a homeless man who has been accused of stealing food from a grocery store. He cannot afford to hire a lawyer to defend himself in court. As an indigent defendant, he is eligible to receive a court-appointed attorney and a waiver of court costs.
Explanation: This example illustrates how an indigent defendant is someone who cannot afford a lawyer and needs assistance from the government to receive legal representation. John is too poor to hire a lawyer, so he is eligible for a court-appointed attorney and a waiver of court costs. This ensures that even those who cannot afford legal representation can still receive a fair trial.