Public Defenders

Appointing Public Defenders

Public Defenders are appointed under the Public Defenders Act 1995.
To be eligible to be appointed as a Public Defender the following criteria apply (Schedule 1, clause 2):

  1. A person must be an Australian lawyer of at least 7 years' standing to be eligible for appointment as the Senior Public Defender
  2. A person must be an Australian lawyer of at least 5 years' standing to be eligible for appointment as a Deputy Senior Public Defender
  3. A person must be an Australian lawyer to be eligible for appointment as a Public Defender

Section 3A of the Act provides that the Attorney General may issue guidelines for the process of selection for appointment or reappointment of a Public Defender.