You do seem to make a connection between public defenders being overworked and defendants not receiving adequate representation.

Perhaps you did not disrespect public defenders, but it does seem to me that there was some perpetuation of the stereotype.

Why, I wonder, do people not use private attorneys in the example of the overworked defense attorney. I know several who have either been suspended or disbarred because they took on too much, performed miserably and poorly represented their clients. On the other hand, almost every single public defender I know gives his or her all to every single client and does so quite well.

I just would like to see this stereotype stopped in its tracks and it rankles a bit when I see fellow defense lawyers using it.