Easy now I was a PD. While it's true that PDs are over worked and unbelievably underpaid to the point of sometimes not being effective (in some jurisdictions more than others) - they actually spend more time in the courtrooms than any private attorney - let me rephrase that - They spend all day in the courtroom with a stack of files/ clients. Consequently they know the DAs and the judges better than anyone, have deep connections and relationships with these people, are often better at sussing out potential outcomes and securing pleas that are best for the client. Fighting for your rights? You people have a very rosy-hued idea of the legal system. So much depends in the judge.

Here is the thing: Private attorneys are paid by the hour. So they have a incentive to drag your case out, file for extensions, give a false impression of your chances at trial, maybe you are languishing in jail, maybe you really just want to get on with your probation. Believe me, if you are in jail or in trouble - this is probably the worst moment of your life - and if your goose is cooked it is often better to just get on with it. I am sure their are some sloppy, badly trained ones, but generally PDs will fight when there is an issue - they want trials too - trial law is an extreme sport. But private attorneys can be far more unscrupulous toward their own clients - I have seen it many times. They can expose to their clients to longer sentences, more jail time by refusing a reasonable plea in the pretrial phase - potentially much more harmful to you.

People really don't know how fucked the system is in the USA, it's far worse than just "My PD sucks waa waa." Please. My advice: Don't get arrested - really.