Legal Definitions - defender

In legal terms, a defender refers to an individual or entity that protects, represents, or advocates for another party or themselves against an accusation, claim, or threat. This can include a person accused of wrongdoing, a legal professional representing a client, or an organization safeguarding rights.

• Civil Lawsuit: Imagine a small business that is sued by a former employee for wrongful termination. The attorney hired by the small business to argue against the employee's claims and protect the company's interests is acting as a defender.

  This example illustrates a defender as a legal professional who represents a client (the small business) to protect them from a legal claim.

• Criminal Justice System: Consider an individual who has been arrested and charged with a crime but cannot afford to hire a private lawyer. The court assigns a public defender to represent them throughout the legal process.

  Here, the public defender is the defender, specifically a government-appointed attorney whose role is to protect the accused's rights and provide a legal defense against criminal charges.

• Consumer Protection: A consumer advocacy group files a lawsuit on behalf of a large number of customers who were allegedly defrauded by a major corporation. The group's legal team is acting as a defender for the consumers.

  In this context, the advocacy group's legal team serves as a defender by protecting the collective rights and interests of the consumers against the corporation's alleged misconduct.