I need a pro bono criminal defense/appeals attorney in Hartford, Ct. Please help!

From what you posted this is not an appeal matter. If the charge has been placed, and the PD is not working out, then have your boyfriend ask the PD to alert the judge that a change of counsel is requested and that another be appointed.

Good luck.

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I agree with Mr. Brinkmeier. Your boyfriend's attorney may be doing quite a bit "behind the scenes," or may not be doing anything because there is not yet a complaint on file, etc. I recommend that your boyfriend simply ask his attorney what is being done on his case, and if he is not satisfied with the answer then he should bring it to the attention of the court.

It does not sound like your boyfriend's case is ripe for an appellate attorney. Appellate counsel generally only becomes involved post-conviction; in otherwords, after the trial and conviction. You make a generic complaint that his lawyer isn't doing "squat" for him without any information whatsoever. As an attorney who accepts court-appointed assignments your/his complaint sounds very familiar. Many times there are things going on behind the scenes; i.e. counsel discussing the case and possible resolutions with the district attorney/prosecutor. Additionally, sometimes there is nothing to be done until the case is scheduled to go to trial. Many defendants believe that because their version of what happened differs from what the police or the victim say that something should be able to be done; this is what the trial is for. The jury decides who is telling the truth. I cannot speak for every public defender or court-appointed lawyer, but it is my practice and my experience that they do everything that they can do for their clients. However, if a client wants weekly visits while incarcerated that is an unrealistic expectation. Retained counsel, based on the size of the retainer they were paid have the ability to do this. However, weekly visits are generally not necessary and certainly not required. If your boyfriend is having problems with his lawyer, (beyond personality issues), than he, not you, should be contacting the lawyer directly. If that doesn't work than most public defender offices usually have an assigned/appointed managing attorney who should be contacted by your boyfriend, not you. You are not the client and really have no right to expect any of the attorney's time or attention.

I have a nephew that needs a pro bono attorney. He was sentenced to prison for a long period of time. He was 16, and had the mind of a 10 year old. He tried to escape, and give additional years. I think he was given a total of 66 years. He was originally charge for robbery, with a weapon. He was a young teenage boy, when he tried to robbed that pawn shop. Please help me give him one more chance at life. They are test strong psychiatic drugs on him.