Why You Get a Lawyer If You Can't Afford One | Gideon v. Wainwright

In 1961, Clarence Earl Gideon was arrested for theft in Florida. Unable to afford a lawyer, he represented himself and was convicted. From prison, he appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear his case. The Court ruled in Gideon's favor, stating that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to legal counsel in all criminal cases, not just capital ones. This landmark decision, Gideon v Wainwright, expanded the rights of the accused and increased the need for public defenders. Despite his victory, Gideon lived in obscurity until his death in 1972.

What was Clarence Earl Gideon accused of doing in Panama City, Florida?

• Breaking into a pool room

• Assaulting a police officer

• Robbing a bank

• Stealing a car

Why did the Florida Circuit Court deny Gideon's request for a lawyer?

• He had previously been provided a lawyer

• He refused to pay court fees

• He was charged with a non-capital offense

• He was not a U.S. citizen

What action did Gideon take while in prison to challenge his conviction?

• He went on a hunger strike

• He petitioned the Supreme Court

• He wrote a letter to the President

• He escaped from prison

What was the significance of the Supreme Court's decision in Gideon v. Wainwright?

• It abolished the death penalty

• It required states to provide lawyers for defendants who cannot afford one

• It allowed for retrials in all criminal cases

• It limited the power of the federal government over state laws

What was one of the long-term impacts of the Gideon v. Wainwright decision?

• A reduction in the number of Supreme Court cases

• A decrease in the number of public defenders

• An expansion of the 14th Amendment's power

• Increased funding for private attorneys