Gideon v Wainwright Flashcards | Quizlet
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Gideon v Wainwright

Terms in this set (10)

year
1963
terminology
felony; paupers petition
parties involved
Gideon - arrested in florida for breaking into pool hall
WainWright - director of division of corrections
situation
gideon was arrested for breaking into a pool hall (felony). he requested a lawyer but was denied because he was too poor. he represented himself in court and was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years. he studied law and wrote to scotus
key legal question
do criminal defendents have a right to counsel at public expense or did the sixth amendment only mean that the government could not stop accused from hiring a lawyer?
decision
9-0 for Gideon
majority opinion
yes, framers placed high value on accused having access to proper defense; state and federal; the fourteenth amendment does not apply a watered-down version of the bill of rights to the states
precedent
the Fourteenth Amendment creates a right for criminal defendants who cannot pay for their own lawyers to have the state appoint attorneys on their behalf.
significance
the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution requires the states to provide defense attorneys to criminal defendants charged with serious offenses who cannot afford lawyers themselves.
category
bill of rights, balance between powe of government and individual liberties (6th amendment)
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