Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions: Do female attorneys tend to be more bothered by conflict with prosecutors? Do female attorneys tend to be more bothered by conflict with clients? Do female attorneys tend to be more bothered by the combat of trials? Do female attorneys tend to be more bothered by cases that appear headed for trial but for which there is no defense? Data were collected during 1994-95 as part of a broader study that involved stress among public defenders in New York State. Both quantitative and qualitative data were obtained. The qualitative data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 20 public defenders in seven mid-size counties. The quantitative data were generated through the use of mailed, self-administered questionnaires that were sent to all public defense counsel identified as having active criminal caseloads in New York City. The questionnaire contained items that measured 17 potential stressors that could confront public defenders. The regression analyses suggest that although some gender-based sensitivity to criminal courthouse conflict appears to exist, there is no evidence that such sensitivity is of any substantive magnitude. 6 tables, 4 notes, and 66 references