The Judiciary Spokesperson on the possibility of appointing a chosen lawyer for defendants during the trial and appeal stages
Masoud Setayeshi, the spokesperson for the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that according to the note in Article 48 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, defendants in the trial and appeal or cassation stages can appoint lawyers of their choice.
Mr. Setayeshi mentioned that not having a chosen lawyer pertains to preliminary investigations and the prosecution stage.
During the arrest and trial of some protesters in Iran, the judiciary has not accepted the chosen lawyers for these individuals even in the trial and appeal stages.
For instance, at least in the case of Majidreza Rahnavard, which led to the issuance and execution of the death sentence, the defendant did not have a chosen lawyer.
The judiciary has so far refrained from accepting chosen lawyers in political and security cases, citing the note in Article 48 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
According to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian citizens have the right to appoint a lawyer of their trust.
