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INDIGENT

1. generally, a person who is poor, financially destitute; 2. in a legal context, a person found by a court to be unable to hire a lawyer or otherwise meet the expense of defending a criminal matter, at which point defense counsel is appointed by the court. See in forma pauperis; public defender. Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016