For the most part, studies have concluded that cooperation by public defenders indicates cooptation into the criminal justice system. In this note, it is argued that previous studies have viewed cooperation in terms of motivation and case outcomes. Cooperation is reconceptualized here to include the dimension of a tactical approach. When viewed in this context, it can be seen that cooperation actually may benefit rather than harm a client. Examples are also given of noncooperation in the courtroom, furthering the notion that cooperation serves as a tactical approach rather than as a vehicle for entrance as a member of the legal system in which the defendent's interests are neglected. (Publisher abstract)