Article 12 of the Regulations on Legal Aid If the defendant fails to entrust a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, and the people's court appoints a defender for the defendant, the legal aid institution shall provide legal aid. If the defendant is blind, deaf, dumb or a minor without a defender, or if the defendant may be sentenced to death without a defender, when the people's court appoints a defender for the defendant, the legal aid institution shall provide legal aid without examining the defendant's financial situation.