What if there is no lawyer in criminal cases?

In criminal cases, the defendant can defend himself or be appointed by the judicial organ, and there is no defense lawyer. According to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, a criminal suspect may entrust others to defend himself during the review and prosecution by the people's procuratorate and the trial by the people's court. There are two ways for criminal suspects to exercise their right of defense in criminal proceedings, one is self-defense and the other is entrusted defense.

Self-defense is the reason and basis for the criminal suspect to defend the accused criminal act and put forward that he is innocent, light or should be given a lighter, mitigated or exempted punishment.

Entrusted defense is the reason and basis for the criminal suspect to entrust others to defend himself, and the defender puts forward that he is innocent, the crime is light or should be given a lighter, mitigated or exempted punishment. While entrusting others to defend themselves, criminal suspects still enjoy the right to defend themselves. Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law: In addition to exercising the right of defense, a criminal suspect or defendant may entrust one or two persons as defenders. The following persons may be entrusted as defenders:

(1) lawyers;

(2) A person recommended by a people's organization or the unit to which the criminal suspect or defendant belongs;

(3) Guardians, relatives and friends of criminal suspects and defendants.

A person who has been sentenced to punishment according to law or deprived of or restricted personal freedom shall not act as a defender.

A person who has been dismissed from public office or has his lawyer's or notary's practice certificate revoked may not act as a defender, except the guardian or near relative of the criminal suspect or defendant.