The duty of public defenders shall be to represent before the Court of First Instance and before the courts of appeal, every person accused of a felony or misdemeanor which may entail a penalty of more than one (1) year, and from the nature and circumstances of which the court may determine that the accused needs the services of a lawyer, when he lacks the financial means to pay for said services. History —Apr. 29, 1940, No. 91, p. 612, § 2; May 1, 1941, No. 71, p. 652, § 1.
Puerto Rico Legal Code