Explanation: To be defendant in a judicial process whether criminal - defendant - or civil have no axiological valuation.
The status of defendant or the conditionof only means that an action has been brought against the individual in court. And as such, it is up to him to defend himself against that action with the rights and guarantees inherent in his condition and the fair composition of the dispute necessary.
Senior military officials, maybe. Governors are voted in at midterms, and SC justices are confirmed by the Senate (Look up Neil Gorsuch for evidence of that).