Yep. And then it's also economics. If the defendant can't afford a lawyer, one is appointed. The lawyer is on the CJA panel. Defense lawyers never get to hang around with the "in crowd", but they get a reputation quickly. If they go along to get along, they get more cases and make more money. If they are perceived as pains in the asses who slow everything down, they rarely get appointed. Nobody likes a pain in the ass defense lawyer.