The Public Defender

{{Infobox film

| name = The Public Defender

| image = The Public Defender poster.jpg

| caption = Film poster

| director = J. Walter Ruben
James Anderson (assistant)

| producer = William LeBaron
Louis Sarecky

| writer = George Goodchild
Bernard Schubert

| starring = Richard Dix
Shirley Grey

| music =

| cinematography = Edward Cronjager

| editing = Archie Marshek

| distributor = RKO Radio Pictures

| released = {{Film date|1931|7|31| Premiere-New York City|1931|8|1|U.S.|ref2={{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=6400|title=The Public Defender: Detail View|publisher=American Film Institute|access-date=April 22, 2014}}}}

| runtime = 69 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

}}

The Public Defender is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film directed by J. Walter Ruben, starring Richard Dix and featuring Boris Karloff.

Plot

Rich playboy Pike Winslow dons the mantle of 'The Reckoner', a mysterious avenger, when he learns that his lady friend Barbara Gerry's father has been framed in a bank embezzlement scandal. Using meticulous planning and split-second timing, Pike, along with his associates, the erudite 'Professor' and tough-guy scrapper 'Doc', attempt to find proof that will clear Gerry and identify the real culprits.