Can friends be criminal defenders?

If your friend conforms to the law, he can be a criminal defender.

According to the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) and relevant laws and regulations,

Article 32 A criminal suspect or defendant may, in addition to exercising the right of defense, 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.