You’ve been arrested in St. Lucie County, FL. You’re scared, confused, and facing a huge decision that could change everything. Standing in front of you are three options: wait for a free public defender, hire a private defense lawyer, or represent yourself in court.
This choice affects your freedom, your job, your family, and your future. And the hardest part is that the system won’t slow down to help you figure it out.
Let’s cut through the confusion. Here’s what each option actually means for your case and your life.
Option 1: Using a Public Defender
Public defenders get a bad reputation, but what most people don’t understand is that they are real, licensed attorneys who passed the same Florida Bar exam as any private attorney. They possess in-depth knowledge of criminal law, genuinely care about their clients, and many of them are exceptionally talented.
So what’s the problem?
It comes down to the system they’re forced to work in. Public defenders are government employees—part of the same system that’s prosecuting you. And more importantly, they’re drowning in cases.
Public defenders in Florida routinely handle 500 to 1,000 cases. The American Bar Association recommends a maximum of 150 felony cases or 400 misdemeanor cases per year. Florida’s public defenders are handling double or triple that—sometimes more.
This can often mean that your case gets 15 to 20 minutes of attention, maybe less. Meanwhile, a private attorney can spend hours or even days building your defense.
Public defenders are in court all day, every day—juggling different cases, different clients, constant hearings. You’ll likely meet yours for the first time just minutes before your court appearance. They’ll review your file in the hallway, ask you a few quick questions, and then you’re walking into the courtroom.
It’s like being treated by an ER doctor versus scheduling surgery with a specialist who knows your medical history. Both are doctors. Both care. But one has the time and resources to focus on you.
As one national study on public defense workloads put it: “When public defenders have excessive workloads, they are forced to prioritize some cases over others. This inevitably causes harm.”
Are Public Defenders Real Lawyers?
Yes—absolutely. They’re qualified, licensed attorneys who passed the Florida Bar exam just like any private lawyer. The difference isn’t their credentials or their dedication.
The difference is they’re doing their best in an impossible situation. When you’re juggling 700 cases at once, even the best attorney in the world can only give you minutes, not hours.
And when your freedom is at stake, is “doing their best under the circumstances” good enough?
Option 2: Representing Yourself
You have the constitutional right to represent yourself in court. The question isn’t whether you can—it’s whether you should.
You’ll be up against trained lawyers who do this every single day. They know the rules, they know the judges, and they know how to win. And they’re not going to go easy on you just because you don’t have a lawyer.
Think about everything you don’t know:
- Which questions you legally can’t ask witnesses
- When to object—and when objecting actually hurts you
- The procedural rules for filing motions and presenting evidence
- How to challenge evidence that was collected illegally
- What plea deals are fair, and which ones are traps
You don’t get practice rounds in criminal court. One mistake—one thing you say, one motion you don’t file, one deadline you miss—can mean the difference between going home and going to jail.
As a former Florida prosecutor, our attorney Andrew Simko saw this happen constantly. Good people, and sometimes, innocent people, unknowingly destroying their own cases by saying things that incriminate them or by missing filing deadlines they didn’t know existed.
The system doesn’t care that you weren’t trained for this.
What are the Risks of Representing Myself in Court?
The risks of representing yourself in court for criminal charges are enormous.
You’re walking into a system designed by lawyers, for lawyers. Every single person in that courtroom—the judge, the prosecutor, the bailiff—has seen hundreds of defendants before you. They know you don’t understand the rules, and prosecutors will use that against you.
And once you’re convicted, you can’t go back and say “I didn’t know.” The system doesn’t care that you weren’t trained for this.
Option 3: Hiring a Private Criminal Defense Attorney
So, what changes when you hire a private attorney? In short, everything:
- Time that’s actually yours. Your case isn’t one of 700—it’s one of 30 or 40. That means real hours dedicated to investigating evidence, interviewing witnesses, and building a defense strategy that’s custom-tailored to YOUR situation.
- Resources that matter. Private attorneys have access to:
- Private investigators who can find witnesses the police never talked to
- Expert witnesses who can challenge the prosecution’s forensic evidence
- Former prosecutors on staff who know exactly how the state builds cases (more on this in a second)
- Support staff who can handle paperwork, research, and coordination
- Strategy built specifically for you. Not a template, but a truly custom defense based on:
- Your specific charges and the evidence against you
- Your background, your life circumstances, your responsibilities
- The specific prosecutor assigned to your case
- The judge who’ll be hearing it
- Local court tendencies in the 19th Judicial Circuit
- Access when you need it. Private attorneys answer your calls. They’re available 24/7 when you get arrested—not “maybe we can meet for 10 minutes next Tuesday if the court schedule allows.”
Plus, as a former prosecutor, attorney Andrew Simko knows exactly how prosecutors think, what weaknesses they look for in defense cases, and how to counter their strategies before they even use them.
Public defenders are talented, but they rarely have the time to leverage the system the same way a private criminal defense attorney does.
What Should I Look for in a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
Look for someone who checks these boxes:
- Local experience in St. Lucie County courts. The 19th Judicial Circuit has its own culture and tendencies. You want someone who knows the judges and knows how cases actually move through Port St. Lucie courts.
- Track record with your specific charges. DUI defense is completely different from defending drug charges. Find someone who’s handled cases like yours successfully.
- Former prosecutor experience. This gives you insider knowledge of how the state thinks and builds cases. It’s an advantage you can’t get anywhere else.
- Clear communication. Your lawyer should return calls, answer questions, and explain your options in plain English—not legal jargon that leaves you more confused than before.
- Transparent pricing with payment plans. Most private attorneys understand not everyone has thousands of dollars sitting around. Ask about payment options upfront.
- Real trial experience. Not just plea deals. If your case goes to trial, you need someone who’s comfortable in a courtroom and knows how to present a winning argument to a jury.
- Available 24/7 for arrests. Because arrests don’t happen between 9 and 5.
- Free consultation. You should be able to discuss your case and get straight answers before committing to anything.
At Simko Law Group, we check every one of these boxes. But don’t just take our word for it—call us and see for yourself.
Criminal Defense Lawyer vs. Self-Representation vs. Public Defender Comparison
Still not sure? Here’s what each option actually gives you:
| Factor | Public Defender | Self-Representation | Private Attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (if you qualify) | Free | $1,500-$10,000+ (payment plans available) |
| Time on Your Case | 15-30 minutes total | All your time (but no expertise) | Hours to days |
| Experience | Qualified attorney | None | Qualified + specialized |
| Resources | Very limited | None | Investigators, experts, support staff |
| Availability | Brief meetings before court | Always available (you) | 24/7 access to your attorney |
| Caseload Focus | 500-1,000 cases | Just yours (but you’re not trained) | 20-50 cases |
| Local Court Knowledge | Yes | No | Yes |
| Custom Strategy | Cookie-cutter | Guesswork | Tailored to YOU |
| Plea Bargaining Power | Limited | None | Strong |
Notice what’s missing from the first two columns? Time, resources, and strategy built specifically for your case.
How Do I Decide Between a Public Defender and Private Attorney?
To decide between a public defender and a criminal defense lawyer in St. Lucie County, ask yourself these questions:
- What’s really at stake?
Are you facing a first-time misdemeanor or a felony that could mean years in prison? Could you lose your professional license? Professionals in Florida face license board scrutiny after criminal convictions. Are you facing deportation if convicted? Will you lose your job? The stakes matter. A lot. - Can you afford NOT to hire private counsel?
What’s the cost of jail time to your family? What’s your job worth? What’s a clean record worth when you’re trying to rent an apartment five years from now or apply for a promotion?Public defenders are free—but what’s the hidden cost of 15 minutes of attention on a case that could change your life?
- Do you have time to wait?
It can take weeks to be assigned a public defender in St. Lucie County. Meanwhile, evidence disappears. Witnesses’ memories fade. Surveillance footage gets erased. Opportunities for early intervention—like negotiating with prosecutors before charges are even filed—vanish completely.A private attorney starts working the day you call. Not next week, or after you’ve sat in jail waiting for an appointment. Today.
If you’re reading this, you might already have the answer. You wouldn’t be researching your options if you thought the free choice was good enough.
Your freedom, your family, and your future are too important to leave to an overwhelmed public defender or to gamble on your own lack of legal training.
The choice is yours. But don’t wait until it’s too late to make the right one. Contact Simko Law Group today to discuss your case with someone who has the time, resources, and experience to fight for you. We offer free consultations because we believe you deserve to know your options before making any decisions.
Call us at (561) 951-1264 anytime, day or night. We’re available 24/7 in St. Lucie County.