“There can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has,” was once said by Hugo Black. Hugo Black was an associate justice working on a landmark US Supreme Court case in the 1960s. (Cornelius). Until the landmark case of Gideon v. Wainwright, most poor Americans did not have the right to an attorney unless they were at risk of being charged with a death sentence. (Bernstein) As most of us know, a federal law cannot be changed unless it is first broken by an individual, brought to trial, and the individual is found guilty. (McClenaghan) The case of Gideon v. Wainwright is a classic example of how a federal law is created after an individual is found guilty due to a poorly executed trial. Gideon brought his case to the Supreme Court on the grounds that all men should be represented by a lawyer regardless of the size of their wallets.
The original trial was held in the state of Florida in 1961. (Cornelius) Clarence Earl Gideon was accused by Henry for breaking and entering into the Bay Harbor poolroom, taking a few bottles of beer and wine, along with some money from the cigarette and jukebox machines. (DeLorenzo) Gideon claimed that he worked at the Bay Harbor, and had a key, therefore did not break into the poolroom. Being too poor to hire an attorney, Gideon, had no choice but to defend himself. Gideon however believed that he had a constitutional right to an attorney, and asked the court to appoint him one during his trial. Judge appointed to the case, Judge Robert McCrary, denied Gideon a lawyer, stating, “Mr. Gideon, I am sorry, but I cannot appoint Counsel to represent you in this case. Under the laws of the State of Florida, the only time the Court can appoint Counsel to represent a Defendant is when that person is charged with a capital offense. I am sorry, but I will have to deny your request to appoint Counsel to defend you in this case.” (usinfo.state.gov) Having no court experience Gideon’s odds of winning the case were slim to none. Consequently Gideon was found guilty and sentenced to a five year prison term, even though he had eight witnesses testify on his behalf.
While in prison Gideon educated himself by reading books on American law. The sequential year, following all the formal rules of appeal, Gideon wrote a letter to the Supreme Court, explaining his situation. By 1962 all but thirteen states, including Florida, had passed a law that awarded all defendants with a state-appointed lawyer. (Cornelius) Gideon claimed that it was unfair that some states presented poor people with lawyers, white other did not. He believed this was a violation of the 6th, and the 14th Amendment. He named Louie Wainwright, Florida’s director of Division of Corrections, as the defendant.
In 1963 the Supreme Court appointed Abe Fortes, and Hugo Black to represent Gideon in his appeal. “Measured by any standard, the man appointed by the Supreme Court to represent Gideon was one of the best lawyers of his time” written by Abe Krash, who assisted Fortes in the Gideon case.
One of the arguments presented by the Fortes was that the 6th Amendment promises that “the accused shall enjoy the right…to have the Assistance of Counsel (a lawyer) for his defense.” While the The 14th Amendment promises that states will not deprive people of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. (hprtec.org) Without argument, Gideon was unable to adquately defend himself in a court room, therefore without having been appointed a lawyer, he’s been deprived of his rights. In opposition, the defense’s arguments were based on the facts such as that Gideon did receive a trial, which is all that is guaranteed by the Constitution, not an attorney by the state. The defense also believed that the cost of providing every man with a lawyer would be astonishing.
Nonetheless, after reviewing all the arguments the Supreme Court made an unanumous decicion, ruling in Gideon’s favor. Shortly after, Gideon was given a new trial, this time represented by a lawyer, and was found non-guilty of the charges brought against him.
The Supreme Court’s decicion did not guarantee that all poor people would be repsented by lawyers as competent as those of rich people. However, it does present poor people with an attorney, a right that has been denied to many in the past. This case also shows that even a poor men like Gideon can recieve a hearing before the Supreme Court. Thanks to the Gideon vs. Wainwright case, in today’s age, every American, poor or rich, knows that if there comes a time when they are brought to court, they will receive a fair hearing, and be represented by a lawyer. In the year 1964 Anthony Lewis wrote a book called “Gideon’s Trumphet” which detailed the Gideon case. The book was later made into a movie. This case was also recalled in Time Magazine, which stated Gideon vs. Wainwright was one of the top 10 legal events in the 1960s.
As you can see, Gideon vs. Wainwright, dramatically changed how American courtrooms operate. Following this landmark case, constitutional rights are no longer withheld from those who lack money or education. Every American may be reprsented by a state appointed attorney, and given a fair trial. ”If an obscure Florida convict named Clarence Earl Gideon had not sat down in his prison cell . . . to write a letter to the Supreme Court . . . the vast machinery of American law would have gone on functioning undisturbed. But Gideon did write that letter, the Court did look into his case . . . and the whole course of American legal history has been changed.”
Gideon vs. Wainwright
“There can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has,” was once said by Hugo Black. Hugo Black was an associate justice working on a landmark US Supreme Court case in the 1960s. (Cornelius). Until the landmark case of Gideon v. Wainwright, most poor Americans did not have the right to an attorney unless they were at risk of being charged with a death sentence. (Bernstein) As most of us know, a federal law cannot be changed unless it is first broken by an individual, brought to trial, and the individual is found guilty. (McClenaghan) The case of Gideon v. Wainwright is a classic example of how a federal law is created after an individual is found guilty due to a poorly executed trial. Gideon brought his case to the Supreme Court on the grounds that all men should be represented by a lawyer regardless of the size of their wallets.
The original trial was held in the state of Florida in 1961. (Cornelius) Clarence Earl Gideon was accused by Henry for breaking and entering into the Bay Harbor poolroom, taking a few bottles of beer and wine, along with some money from the cigarette and jukebox machines. (DeLorenzo) Gideon claimed that he worked at the Bay Harbor, and had a key, therefore did not break into the poolroom. Being too poor to hire an attorney, Gideon, had no choice but to defend himself. Gideon however believed that he had a constitutional right to an attorney, and asked the court to appoint him one during his trial. Judge appointed to the case, Judge Robert McCrary, denied Gideon a lawyer, stating, “Mr. Gideon, I am sorry, but I cannot appoint Counsel to represent you in this case. Under the laws of the State of Florida, the only time the Court can appoint Counsel to represent a Defendant is when that person is charged with a capital offense. I am sorry, but I will have to deny your request to appoint Counsel to defend you in this case.” (usinfo.state.gov) Having no court experience Gideon’s odds of winning the case were slim to none. Consequently Gideon was found guilty and sentenced to a five year prison term, even though he had eight witnesses testify on his behalf.
In 1963 the Supreme Court appointed Abe Fortes, and Hugo Black to represent Gideon in his appeal. “Measured by any standard, the man appointed by the Supreme Court to represent Gideon was one of the best lawyers of his time” written by Abe Krash, who assisted Fortes in the Gideon case.
One of the arguments presented by the Fortes was that the 6th Amendment promises that “the accused shall enjoy the right…to have the Assistance of Counsel (a lawyer) for his defense.” While the The 14th Amendment promises that states will not deprive people of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. (hprtec.org) Without argument, Gideon was unable to adquately defend himself in a court room, therefore without having been appointed a lawyer, he’s been deprived of his rights. In opposition, the defense’s arguments were based on the facts such as that Gideon did receive a trial, which is all that is guaranteed by the Constitution, not an attorney by the state. The defense also believed that the cost of providing every man with a lawyer would be astonishing.
Nonetheless, after reviewing all the arguments the Supreme Court made an unanumous decicion, ruling in Gideon’s favor. Shortly after, Gideon was given a new trial, this time represented by a lawyer, and was found non-guilty of the charges brought against him.
The Supreme Court’s decicion did not guarantee that all poor people would be repsented by lawyers as competent as those of rich people. However, it does present poor people with an attorney, a right that has been denied to many in the past. This case also shows that even a poor men like Gideon can recieve a hearing before the Supreme Court. Thanks to the Gideon vs. Wainwright case, in today’s age, every American, poor or rich, knows that if there comes a time when they are brought to court, they will receive a fair hearing, and be represented by a lawyer. In the year 1964 Anthony Lewis wrote a book called “Gideon’s Trumphet” which detailed the Gideon case. The book was later made into a movie. This case was also recalled in Time Magazine, which stated Gideon vs. Wainwright was one of the top 10 legal events in the 1960s.
As you can see, Gideon vs. Wainwright, dramatically changed how American courtrooms operate. Following this landmark case, constitutional rights are no longer withheld from those who lack money or education. Every American may be reprsented by a state appointed attorney, and given a fair trial. ”If an obscure Florida convict named Clarence Earl Gideon had not sat down in his prison cell . . . to write a letter to the Supreme Court . . . the vast machinery of American law would have gone on functioning undisturbed. But Gideon did write that letter, the Court did look into his case . . . and the whole course of American legal history has been changed.”
-Robert F. Kennedy