John Adams, Kootenai County's chief public defender, comes across as a tough, quick-thinking, fast-talking character out of a TV crime series. As it turns out, Adams is not acting; he's the genuine article. He's willing to fight for a fair trial for his clients along with a fair deal for his staff. Adams has practiced in the field of criminal justice since his graduation from the University of Arizona's law school in 1983. In 1996 he was hired to be a public defender in Coeur d'Alene; he has now been chief public defender for Kootenai County for more than 18 years. Asked why he chose criminal defense for a career, Adams responded that when he was young he read novels about being a lawyer: "It made me think that being a lawyer was a noble goal. And helping people most in need would be a noble profession"/Mary Lou Reed, Inlander. More here.

Question: Do you consider public defenders to be unsung heroes?