In virginia is it true that you are to receive council appointed by the court within 72hrs?

If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford one.

Actually that is not completely true about not afford one and they will be appointed.

I am sorry I am not up on VA law but I doubt if they are appointed within so many hours of arrest. It is much more likely they may have to have a hearing to see if they will appoint one but again, contact the public defenders office in your county and they can advise you.

In many states people arrested on misdemeanors under city ordinaces may not get an attorney appointed. Also a person who may be able to have grandma put up her house, can not get one. ( they view them as being able to afford one, although that is not true) So often the court will have to have a hearing to decide if you qualify for a free attorney or not.

You may often get a public defender to be present at your initial hearing but they are merely there to see your rights are not violated.

Also while I respect dearly those people who work in public defenders office, don't expect it to work like on TV, often you seldom get the same attorney at the hearing that you may talk to, often they visit with you about 1/2 hour before you go before the judge for your case.

But if you believe someone should be getting an attorney, contact the public defender office to inquire.