public defender a lawyer provided by the state to represent a person accused of a crime. Clearly, where there is respect for the human right of a fair trial, there has to be a separation of powers between the public defender and the prosecution – something that is difficult where there may be a similar 'civil service' type of career structure and movement of individuals between divisions. They are well known in the USA and the system is the subject of an experiment in Scotland. It is now provided for in English legislation and the precise system is a matter of consultation. See CRIMINAL DEFENCE SERVICE. public domain 1. (USA) land owned by the government.

2. property rights not attached by anyone. In the UK so far as herita- ble or real property is concerned, almost anything that is not owned by someone is owned by the Crown or inherited by the Crown. The

318

putative father

main practical use of the phrase in contemporary UK law is to denote INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY rights that are either still open or have been let out to the public in such a way that they are not protected by copyright patent, trademark or by obligations of confidence.

• pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant
• paternity
• patriality
• patriation
• pawn
• PAYE
• payment in due course
• payment into court
• PC
• Peace Commissioner
• pedlar
• peer
• penal code
• penalty clauses
• pendente lite
• pension
• per annum
• per capita
• per curiam
• peremptory challenge
• per incuriam
• periodical allowance
• periodic payment order
• perjury
• permanent trustee