Reed Hadley is Bart Matthews, your Public Defender, in this series of law and
order dramas that ran on CBS from 1954 to 1955. At the time of the show's
creation (by Mort Lewis and Sam Shayon), the concept of the public defender was
little known throughout much of the United States. Stories were purportedly
based on true cases, and each episode ends with a salute to a working public
defender.
Bart Matthews (Hadley) takes on clients that cannot afford expensive legal
counsel. Young or old, innocent or guilty, the law comes first for the stoic and
driven public defender. Hadley previously starred in the television series
"Racket Squad" (1953-1954) and is fondly remembered for playing the title role
in the action-packed Republic serial Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939).
THE RING - Matthews enters the strange, dark world of carnival
sideshows when an exotic carny worker is charged with grand theft.
OPERATION PLEASE - Law enforcement agencies from the U.S. and Mexico
join forces after the public defenders' office uncovers a car theft ring that is
connected to drug trafficking.
LOVE AND CONSCIENCE - A lovesick truck driver is wrongly implicated in
a hijacking. Feeling sympathy for him, Matthews does all he can to prove the
man's innocence.
IN THE LINE OF DUTY - Public Defender Holt must defend a boy who
stands accused of assaulting Holt's longtime friend and mentor.
Starring: Reed Hadley, Marie Windsor & Joseph Turkel
Produced by: Hal Roach Jr.
Directed by: Erle C. Kenton & Harve Foster
The Public Defender, Volume 2 (DVD Movie) . . .
