Yes. If your charge is very minor, if you are clearly guilty, and if you plan to take the plea no matter what, a public defender is fine. Traffic misdemeanors. First-offense low-level stuff where the plea is already set. Cases where you truly can not come up with any money for a private lawyer. In those situations a public defender will do what needs to be done. The problem starts when the charge is serious and you need a real fight to prevent life altering consequences like becoming a convicted felon.
