Case Brief 8 - Gideon v. Wainwright

POL 226, Dr. Harriger – Janice Park

Gideon v. Wainwright 372 U. 335 (1963)

Facts:

Legally Relevant Facts

: Clarence Earl Gideon broke and entered intentionally to commit a misdemeanor and was convicted of crime. When he was in the court, he had to defend himself without any guidance of counsel, although he is an indigent defendant. Florida asked Betts v. Brady to be left intact, meaning the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of counsel should not be included as one of the fundamental rights.

Procedurally Relevant Facts

: Gideon was sentenced to be imprisoned for five years in the Florida state prison.

Issue(s):

Should this Court’s holding in Betts v. Brady, 316 U. 455, be considered?

Holding:

The court disagrees with the holding of Betts v. Brady in part, as the court think that Sixth

Amendment’s guarantee of counsel should be included as one of the fundamental rights. The

lower court’s decision was reversed and the cause is remanded to the Supreme Court of Florida

for further action.

Reasoning:

“Governments, both state and federal, quite properly spend vast sums of money to establish machinery to try defendants accused of crime. Lawyers to prosecute are everywhere deemed essential to protect the public’s interest in an orderly society,” as it is hard for the defendant to have sufficient knowledge to prove his innocence although he is truly innocence. Therefore, “lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries” (p), as a fair trial cannot be assured without guidance of a counsel. Therefore, Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of counsel should be considered as a fundamental right, and indigent defendants who is too poor to hire a lawyer should have a right to have assigned counsel to prepare and present their defenses.