Art. 1303.9 Private counsel

If you're involved in a case covered by this part of the law, you have the right to hire your own lawyer instead of relying on a court-appointed one or handling things on your own. This means you can choose an attorney you trust and pay for their services to represent you throughout the proceedings.

This rule simply confirms that private legal representation is an option available to you. You are not required to use a public defender or any other appointed counsel if you would rather hire someone yourself. The choice of who represents you, as long as they are qualified to practice law, is up to you.