Public Defender (1954)
A pioneering CBS legal drama in which attorney Bart Matthews fights for justice on behalf of those who cannot afford a lawyer.
Public Defender - Series Information
- Original Title: Public Defender
- First Air Year: 1954
- Last Air Year: 1955
- Created by: Mort R. Lewis, Sam Shayon
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Content Rating (US): NR
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 30 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 69
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: March 11, 1954 (United States - NR)
- Networks: CBS
- Production Companies: Hal Roach Studios
- Production Countries: United States of America
Public Defender - Plot
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 season and a half.
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Public Defender - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Mort R. Lewis
- Sam Shayon
Main Cast
- Reed Hadley
- Herschel Graham
- Walter Reed
- Ben Welden
- John Harmon
- Frank Hagney
- John Pickard
- Don C. Harvey
- Robert Bray
- George E. Stone
Writers
- Lee Loeb
- John Tucker Battle
- David Dortort
Public Defender - FAQs
Who stars in Public Defender?
Reed Hadley leads the cast as Bart Matthews, the idealistic public defender at the heart of the series. He is joined by Walter Reed, Ben Welden, John Harmon, Frank Hagney, John Pickard, Don C. Harvey, Robert Bray, and George E. Stone, among others.
Where can I stream Public Defender?
Public Defender is available to stream on Pure Flix with a subscription. You can also watch it for free with ads on The Roku Channel. Both options make it easy to revisit this classic 1950s legal drama without any purchase required.
What is Public Defender about?
The series follows Bart Matthews, a dedicated attorney who takes on cases for clients who cannot afford legal representation. Each half-hour episode presents a self-contained courtroom or investigative story, shining a light on the American justice system and the people it often overlooks.
How many episodes does Public Defender have?
Public Defender ran for 69 episodes across two seasons. Season 1 contained 26 episodes, while Season 2 expanded to 43 episodes. The series aired on CBS from March 11, 1954 to June 23, 1955, spanning roughly a season and a half of broadcast television.
When did Public Defender first air on CBS?
Public Defender premiered on CBS on March 11, 1954. The show ran until June 23, 1955, making it one of the earlier legal dramas to appear on American network television during the medium's formative years in the early 1950s.
Who created and wrote Public Defender?
The series was created by Mort R. Lewis and Sam Shayon. Writing duties were handled by Lee Loeb, John Tucker Battle, and David Dortort, a trio of experienced television writers who helped shape the show's episodic courtroom storytelling style.
What shows are similar to Public Defender?
Fans of Public Defender may enjoy other legal dramas such as Law & Order, Justice, and Jury Trial. For something closer in tone and era, Shades of Guilt and Close and True offer similarly grounded portrayals of the legal system and the people navigating it.
Is Public Defender based on a true story?
Public Defender is not based on a single true story, but it was clearly inspired by the real-world role of public defenders in the American legal system. The show drew on authentic courtroom dynamics and social issues of the early 1950s to give each episode a grounded, realistic feel.
More About Public Defender
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