Current legal provisions on choosing, changing and appointing the defense counsel and some recommendations

Abstract

The right to defense is one of the human rights vested in all suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings. Besides the right of self-defense, the accused persons are entitled to choose, to change, or to refuse a defense counsel. In specific circumstances under the law, a defense barrister is appointed or assigned by competent prosecution agencies. The article studies the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2015 on electing, changing, refusing, or appointing the defense counsel. Based on the research findings, the author proposes the supplementation and amendment of some provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2015 on choosing, changing, refusing, or appointing the defense counsel to ensure further the right to defense of the accused persons.