Turkish Law in EnglishTÜRKİYE
Code of Criminal Procedure

Article 156: Procedure for the appointment of defence counsel

Part Six: Defence › Chapter One: Choice and Appointment of Defence Counsel, Duties and Powers

(1) In the cases set out in Article 150, defence counsel shall be appointed by the bar association:

a) In the investigation phase, upon the request of the authority taking the statement or of the judge conducting the interrogation,

b) In the prosecution phase, upon the request of the court,

as set out above.

(2) In the cases specified above, defence counsel shall be appointed by the bar association of the place where the investigation or prosecution is conducted.

(3) If the suspect or accused person subsequently chooses defence counsel himself, the duty of the attorney appointed by the bar association shall terminate.

Original Turkish text

MADDE 156 · Müdafiin görevlendirilmesinde usul

(1) 150 nci maddede yazılı olan hâllerde, müdafi;

a) Soruşturma evresinde, ifadeyi alan merciin veya sorguyu yapan hâkimin istemi üzerine,

b) Kovuşturma evresinde, mahkemenin istemi üzerine,

Baro tarafından görevlendirilir.

(2) Yukarıda belirtilen hâllerde müdafi soruşturmanın veya kovuşturmanın yapıldığı yer barosunca görevlendirilir.

(3) Şüpheli veya sanığın kendisinin sonradan müdafi seçmesi halinde, baro tarafından görevlendirilen avukatın görevi sona erer.

Text as of 1 October 2026 · Official source (Turkish): mevzuat.gov.tr ↗

Unofficial translation for information only. The Turkish text published in the Official Gazette is the only authoritative version. This page is not legal advice.