Who can be appointed as a defender?

　Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China

Article 33: In addition to exercising the right to a defense themselves, criminal suspects or defendants may also retain one or two persons to serve as defenders. The following persons may be appointed as advocates:

(1) Lawyers;

(2) Persons recommended by people's organizations or the unit to which the criminal suspect or defendant belongs;

(3) The criminal suspect's or defendant's guardians, relatives, or friends.

Persons who are being sentenced or who have been deprived or restricted of their personal freedom in accordance with law must not serve as defenders.

Persons who have been dismissed from public office or whose lawyer or notary public practice certificates have their lawyers' or notaries' practice certificates revoked must not serve as defenders, except where they are the guardians or close relatives of criminal suspects or defendants.

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