Legal Definitions - defender

Definition: A defender is someone who protects or supports something or someone. This can include:

1. One who defends, such as:
• The defendant in a lawsuit
• A person using self-defense
• Defense counsel
2. A public defender, who is a lawyer appointed by the court to represent someone who cannot afford their own lawyer.

For example, if someone is accused of a crime, they may hire a defense lawyer to defend them in court. Alternatively, if someone is attacked, they may use self-defense to protect themselves. In some cases, a person may be appointed a public defender if they cannot afford their own lawyer.