Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    Best of 2021OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersGolden GlobesEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
    AllTitlesTV EpisodesCelebsCompaniesKeywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In

Public Defender

  • TV Series
  • 1954–19551954–1955
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
86
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Public Defender (1954)
CrimeDrama

Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
86
YOUR RATING
  • Creators
    • Mort R. Lewis
    • Sam Shayon
  • Stars
    • Reed Hadley
    • John Close
    • Herschel Graham
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Mort R. Lewis
    • Sam Shayon
  • Stars
    • Reed Hadley
    • John Close
    • Herschel Graham
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Episodes70

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos25

    Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Harry Carey Jr., Frankie Darro, and Kathleen Mulqueen in Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Reed Hadley in Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender (1954)
    Reed Hadley in Public Defender (1954)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Reed Hadley
    Reed Hadley
    • Bart Matthewsas Bart Matthews
    69 episodes69 eps • 1954–1955
    John Close
    John Close
    • 1st Detectiveas 1st Detective…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1954–1955
    Herschel Graham
    Herschel Graham
    • Club Patronas Club Patron…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1954–1955
    Brick Sullivan
    Brick Sullivan
    • Guardas Guard…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1954–1955
    John Harmon
    John Harmon
    • Doc Charlesas Doc Charles…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1954–1955
    Betty Finley
    • Nurseas Nurse…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1954
    Eddie Baker
    Eddie Baker
    • Court Clerkas Court Clerk…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1955
    Peter Hansen
    Peter Hansen
    • Don Hendersonas Don Henderson…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1955
    Christian Drake
    Christian Drake
    • Alan Martinas Alan Martin…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1955
    James Flavin
    James Flavin
    • Jim Blackas Jim Black…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954
    Tom Brown
    Tom Brown
    • Charlie Allenas Charlie Allen…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954
    Ben Welden
    Ben Welden
    • Bossas Boss…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1955
    George N. Neise
    George N. Neise
    • Carl Smithas Carl Smith…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1955
    Robert Bice
    Robert Bice
    • Capt. Santoroas Capt. Santoro…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1955
    Walter Reed
    Walter Reed
    • Attorneyas Attorney…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954
    Phil Tead
    Phil Tead
    • Ericksonas Erickson…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954
    Hugh Beaumont
    Hugh Beaumont
    • Ed McGrathas Ed McGrath…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1954–1955
    Walter Coy
    Walter Coy
    • Det. Sgt. Eggersas Det. Sgt. Eggers…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1954–1955
    • Creators
      • Mort R. Lewis
      • Sam Shayon
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.
    public defenderlawyercourtroomcourtroom dramalegal drama2 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Bart Matthews was intended as a stand-in for the public defender who had actually completed the case at hand, to protect the privacy of that individual.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Debt Buyers (2016)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Good Old Show
    I just found the show on Amazon and have watched almost two seasons. If you like old black and white shows like Dragnet you'll probably like "Public Defender". Even my wife, who don't care much for old shows, likes it enough to watch it with me. Like most TV shows it's not realistic but still entertaining. Every episode follows the same template but some will have a surprising ending.
    helpful•2
    1
    • ibcool007
    • Mar 7, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 11, 1954 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Hal Roach Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Breaking Down the Stanford Rape Case: Everything You Need to Know
    Breaking Down the Stanford Rape Case: Everything You Need to Know
    Jun 10PEOPLE.com
    Breaking Down the Stanford Rape Case: Everything You Need to Know
    Breaking Down the Stanford Rape Case: Everything You Need to Know
    Jun 10PEOPLE.com

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Public Defender (1954)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Public Defender (1954) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page
    Add episode

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the entire gallery
    View list
    List
    Best of 2021: Top 10 Stars of the Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2021 by IMDb.com, Inc.