Shouldn’t it be the default and not require the suspect/subject to actually ask for one? Has there ever been any attempt to make that the norm in any countries? I think the only question should be “do you have your own lawyer you like to use, or are you happy enough with the court-appointed one?”
I’m not even sure opting out should be allowed, but I’m open to hearing reasons why that would be a bad system, or indeed a worse system than the one most countries seem to have now. So many miscarriages of justice could have been easily avoided.
I could see this very quickly being shifted to a norm of “we have provided you with an attorney, you do not need to seek additional council, and since there is no need we will not allow it.”
laws are only as good as the rich allow and the most put upon fight against.