Can the defendant not appear in court if he has hired a lawyer?

Legal analysis: whether the defendant can not appear in court after hiring a lawyer depends on the nature of the case, as follows:

1. If it is a criminal case, the defendant must generally appear in court.

2. In other cases, except those related to personal attributes, such as divorce disputes, the defendant may not appear in court.

Criminal cases refer to cases in which criminal suspects and defendants are accused of violating social relations protected by criminal law, and the state conducts investigation, trial and criminal sanctions in order to investigate the criminal responsibility of criminal suspects and defendants.

Legal basis: Article 143 of the Civil Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). If the plaintiff refuses to appear in court without justifiable reasons after being summoned by a summons, or withdraws from court without the permission of the court, the prosecution may be dismissed. If the defendant counterclaims, he may make a judgment by default.