Under this law, the lawyer appointed by a special court is directed to be "independent."

But the lawyer appointed by the court to represent the woman's interest said he was not sure the woman really wanted to be sterilized.

In virtually every state, poor defendants are appointed lawyers for their first appeals.

But he said no such questions were posed to lawyers appointed to posts elsewhere.

The remaining cases are handled by private lawyers appointed individually.

Aged 32, he was one of the youngest lawyers ever appointed to the federal bench.

Most lawyers appointed to represent the poor do not hire private investigators to look for witnesses or evidence.

Instead, judges appoint lawyers for poor defendants and set their compensation, often at low rates.

Western governments generally appoint judges or private lawyers, who are considered politically independent.

Thus judges, who are elected, appoint lawyers for the indigent.