Yes. In Arizona, you are allowed to hire a private AZ criminal defense attorney after first choosing a public defender. In fact, you may retain new counsel at any point during the proceedings. Keep in mind, however, that you should make the change sooner rather than later. If your hearing or trial is only a couple days away, the court could decide that there is insufficient notice for change of counsel, unless your new attorney is up-to-speed on all the facts in your case. The faster you contact a private criminal defense attorney the better. If you retain private counsel in the early stages of your case, it can increase your chance of obtaining the result you want.
If you have chosen a public defender, you should still consider setting up a free criminal consultation with an AZ criminal defense attorney. It is in your best interest to explore your options so that you can make an informed decision about your defense. If you are facing criminal charges in Arizona make sure that you don’t stand alone. Contact JacksonWhite’s AZ criminal defense attorney at (480) 818-9943 for a free private consultation!