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The Best Episodes of Public Defender

Every episode of Public Defender ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Public Defender!

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The Public Defender is a half-hour 69-episode television dramatic series starring Reed Hadley as Bart Matthews, an attorney for the indigent. The series aired on CBS from March 11, 1954 to June 23, 1955, a

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Seasons2

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Public Defender Season 1 Episode 1 - The Case of the Parolee
    8.5/10(17 votes)

    #1 - The Case of the Parolee

    S1:E1

    No description available

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 12 - The Hijacked Truck
    8.5/10(14 votes)

    #2 - The Hijacked Truck

    S2:E12

    A man in love is accused of hijacking. The public defender hears a story about his courtship and the reason behind his arrest.

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 28 - The Hitchhiker
    8.5/10(18 votes)

    #3 - The Hitchhiker

    S2:E28

    A soldier about to ship out of the country is on his way home to his pregnant wife. He gets a ride with a woman who takes him as far as the car rental place. Later that night, the man and his wife are arrested for stealing the car and hitting an old, blind woman. The Public Defender searches for the young woman who gave him a ride, but she seems to not exist.

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 13 - Circumstanial Evidence
    8.4/10(14 votes)

    #4 - Circumstanial Evidence

    S2:E13

    A story of blind justice, as Matthews defends a man whom was caught by police with the gun that killed the man's wife.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 31 - Time to Kill
    8.4/10(12 votes)

    #5 - Time to Kill

    S2:E31

    When Peter Stone hears that a murder suspect fits his description, his extreme paranoia leads him to take actions that make him appear guilty. He is eventually convicted of a murder he had nothing to do with. Matthews appeals his case.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 35 - End of the Line
    8.3/10(13 votes)

    #6 - End of the Line

    S2:E35

    An elderly Public Defender determines to keep busy during the weeks until his retirement comes through. He puts himself at great odds to keep a man from being sent to prison. Bart Matthews comes to his aid.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Public Defender

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  7. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 17 - Third Floor Rear
    8.2/10(14 votes)

    #7 - Third Floor Rear

    S1:E17

    No description available

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Lee Loeb

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  8. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 22 - Lisa
    8.2/10(13 votes)

    #8 - Lisa

    S1:E22

    No description available

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 14 - Confession of Guilt
    8.1/10(13 votes)

    #9 - Confession of Guilt

    S1:E14

    A woman confesses to shooting her ex-husband and is to stand trial for murder. Her boyfriend tells the public defender what really happened.

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 15 - The Hobo Story
    8.1/10(14 votes)

    #10 - The Hobo Story

    S1:E15

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 2 - Road to Nowhere
    8.1/10(16 votes)

    #11 - Road to Nowhere

    S2:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 29 - Brutality
    8.1/10(14 votes)

    #12 - Brutality

    S2:E29

    A man arrested for robbery swears he's innocent and only signed the confession because the arresting officer beat him up.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 26 - Jackpot
    8.0/10(11 votes)

    #13 - Jackpot

    S2:E26

    A kid is arrested for gang activity after mugging a cop, but the gang is being organized by some influential people, so the other gang members threaten to kill the kid if he talks. The Public defender must get to the bottom of things before someone else is hurt!

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 36 - Clifford Pike
    8.0/10(14 votes)

    #14 - Clifford Pike

    S2:E36

    A man admits to murdering his aunt and grandmother, claiming insanity. But the case goes through all twists and turns before the amazing truth is revealed.

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 6 - The Clown
    7.9/10(17 votes)

    #15 - The Clown

    S1:E6

    No description available

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 9 - Badge of Honor
    7.9/10(28 votes)

    #16 - Badge of Honor

    S1:E9

    No description available

    Director:Paul Guilfoyle
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 16 - Youth Crime Ring
    7.9/10(15 votes)

    #17 - Youth Crime Ring

    S1:E16

    No description available

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 25 - Little Egypt
    7.9/10(19 votes)

    #18 - Little Egypt

    S1:E25

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 26 - The Last Appeal
    7.9/10(21 votes)

    #19 - The Last Appeal

    S1:E26

    No description available

    Director:Budd Boetticher
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 3 - Lost Cause
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #20 - Lost Cause

    S1:E3

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Public Defender Season 1 Episode 4 - The Forger
    7.8/10(18 votes)

    #21 - The Forger

    S1:E4

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 10 - Hot Rod
    7.8/10(15 votes)

    #22 - Hot Rod

    S2:E10

    The Public Defender defends a young man involved in an accident that killed a young girl. He investigates to see if he was accused because he was in a hot rod.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 17 - Moonshine
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #23 - Moonshine

    S2:E17

    During a raid on the Carter family still, a warden is shot and killed. Jesse Carter, fresh home from the service, is arrested for the killing.

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 27 - A Knowledge of Astronomy
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #24 - A Knowledge of Astronomy

    S2:E27

    An error in reading the stars provides the key clue in unraveling crimes committed at an oil drilling site.

    Director:Erle C. Kenton
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Public Defender Season 2 Episode 33 - The Stepfather
    7.8/10(13 votes)

    #25 - The Stepfather

    S2:E33

    A teenage boy, stepson of the Police Chief, is arrested for breaking into a gas station. The Chief is convinced he can help him. Bart steps in to help and all is resolved in the end when the Chief faces the boy down.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Case of the Parolee" is the best rated episode of "Public Defender". It scored 8.5/10 based on 17 votes. Directed by Erle C. Kenton and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/11/1954. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Hijacked Truck".