In order for your defense to be real it has to be effective, it cannot be a sham or pretense. If you think you are safe with a public defender, (PD) you are very wrong. Your PD is over worked and under funded by the state of Illinois. They won't return your phone calls or letters. If you complain about it the judge will attempt to bait you into firing the PD. Then your screwed because the judge WILL NOT appoint a new PD or lawyer. In order to get the PD to work for you, you have to go to 219 S Dearborn St Chicago IL and file a "1983 Bivens Civil Action" for "Depravation of Rights, Sixth Amendment" against the PD for "Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel" The Court Clerk there even has a instruction pamphlet that makes filing a law suit easy for non lawyers like you. If you have no money for the filing fees don't worry you can file the complaint as a poor person,( forma pauperis). Copy these words down and go to or call the local FEDERAL Court clerk (US Court) not the state court.