assistance for access to Candeian justice
Public Defender’s Office
Provide legal assistance in Candeia’s internal disputes and proceedings to people who lack sufficient resources or face a material barrier to defending themselves.
Pre-Foundation · permanent institution not installedConstitutional Proposal · reference text · not promulgated
Why it exists
Rights of defence only work if lack of resources does not prevent someone from participating in proceedings. The Public Defender’s Office is the proposed structure for reducing that barrier within Candeian justice.
How it reduces barriers to defence
Provide legal assistance and representation to people who lack sufficient resources or face a material barrier to access to Justice, including in constitutional, criminal, civil, administrative and digital matters.
Individual legal representation and assistance. Collective, diffuse and structural relief within its mandate. Autonomous setting of priorities and defence, including against the Government.
Headed by the Public Defender-General; there is a five-member Superior Council: 3 public defenders elected by the career body, 1 jurist chosen by the National Council of Justice and 1 civil-society representative selected by lot from among qualified candidates.
The Public Defender-General is chosen by the Assembly by a three-fifths majority from a public list of three candidates prepared by the Constitutional Appointments Commission after a process assessing merit, integrity, experience and commitment to access to justice.
Public Defender-General: a single seven-year term. Superior Council: single, staggered five-year terms.
The Superior Council may not direct legal strategy in an individual case or interfere with a defence against the Government; staffing and priorities belong to the institution itself.
An independent budget; administrative services may be shared without incompatible access to professional secrecy, legal strategy, protected identity or confidential proceedings.
The Public Defender-General may be removed only for serious grounds, by decision of at least 6 of the 9 members of the Constitutional Court after constitutionally authorised proceedings are initiated.
Ethics and career governance by the Superior Council without interference in the merits of the defence; judicial review, financial audit and professional duties.
Public guidance, access criteria once legally defined, aggregated reports, budget and governance documents — never confidential case strategy.
It does not judge, prosecute or replace the Public Prosecution Service; GOV does not determine eligibility for assistance or create legal representation through its own form.
What it provides in practice
- Individual legal representation and assistance.
- Collective, diffuse and structural relief within its mandate.
- Autonomous setting of priorities and defence, including against the Government.
Defending is not judging or prosecuting
The Public Defender’s Office does not judge, prosecute or replace the Public Prosecution Service. Its role is assistance and representation within the competences of Candeia’s internal legal order.