GIDEON V WAINWRIGHT(1963)Vivian Lee

CASE OVERVIEW

On June 2, 1961, ten dollars and drinks were stolen from a Panama City, Florida, pool hall

Clarence Earl Gideon was accused of this crime and charged in a Florida state court

He could not afford a lawyer and his request for one was denied

Gideon defended himself and lost the trial Gideon was sentenced to five years in a state

prison

WHILE IN PRISON…

Filed a habeas corpus petition (petition for release from unjust imprisonment) to the Florida Supreme Court

After being denied, Gideon appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in a suit against the Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections, Louie L. Wainwright

CONCLUSION

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision written by Justice Hugo Black, ruled that Gideon's conviction was unconstitutional because he was denied a defense lawyer at trial

Violation of Sixth Amendment (gives defendants the right to counsel in criminal trials)

IMPACT ON COURTS

The Court further interpreted the Sixth Amendment, requiring states to provide defense attorneys to any indigent criminal defendant charged with a felony

Noted that the states are also bound to the Sixth Amendment because the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause (applies the key provisions of the Bill of Rights against the states)