Not offered court appointed attorney?

I recently went to court for driving on a suspended license-first offense (for this time). I have had a previous suspended license. The case before was also a suspended license and the judge offered the defendant a choice of an appointed attorney or a guilty plea of $200. When it was my turn the judge said "if I were you, I would not open your mouth Mr. xxxx; because if you do, you are looking at a year in county. I suggest you get an attorney and come back in one month." No mention of a court appointed attorney was made. Perhaps I should have mentioned it at the time, but I was too stunned to think about it. I am unemployed and unable to afford an attorney or it would have to be one extremely inexpensive. I have talked with the courthouse, the district attorney’s office, public aid lawyers and no one apparently can help. I thought it was a right that "if you can not afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you." Apparently that is not the case. Any advice is greatly appreciated. In the event the area of the case is helpful, it is Cook County, Illinois, District 3, Rolling Meadows.
I DID contact the Public Defender’s office. They told me because the judge did not order it there was NOTHING they could do. (It was my error in my original question, I said DA, but I meant that I had contacted the Public Attorney‘s office.)

Good grief. Go to the public defender’s office and APPLY for assistance. If you qualify for assistance, you will have an attorney. http://www.co.cook.il.us/portal/server.pt/community/public_defender%2C_law_office_of/260/public_defender%2C_law_office_of

The judge doesn’t have to hold your hand and guide you through the process. I suppose he figured that since you have been down this route before you would know the routine.