Does the state have the right to give my bond money to a public defender ifI want to get my own lawyer?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Does the state have the right to give my bond money to a public defender ifI want to get my own lawyer?
My step-father lives in WI but caught a case in IL. After about 1 year his bond was revoked for crossing state lines even thought before he was caught he lived in WI to begin with. When we tried to get our bond money back and hire a lawyer, the state kept over half of it and gave it to a public defender, who he doesn’t want. What can we do?
Asked on December 13, 2010 under Criminal Law, Wisconsin
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
I would speak with either a bail bondsman in your area or a criminal defense attorney who is familiar with your state laws on the issue. It would seem to me that if your step father violated the law and his bond was revoked then it could indeed be forfeited to pay for costs associated with your step father's defense, like paying back the state for the use of the public defender. Whether he wanted one or not was one assigned and accepted? Even for the arraignment process? Yes, it is true that you can fire your attorney at any time and retain a new one but that did not happen before he violated the terms of his release on bail. Get help.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.