the sixth amendment requires the states to provide defense attorneys to defendants accused of felonies if they cannot afford their own
The Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 US 335 (1963) ensured indigent criminal defendants had access to a court-appoint attorney.
Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 US 335 (1963)The case was originally called Gideon v. Cochran, but Louie L. Wainwright succeeded Cochran as Secretary to the Florida Department of Corrections before the case was heard in the US Supreme Court.
Gideon v. Wainwright was argued before the Supreme Court on January 15, 1963, and the decision was issued on March 18, 1963. The case lasted a few months from its argument to the ruling. The Court's decision established the right to counsel for defendants in state courts, reinforcing the Sixth Amendment.
Gideon V. Wainwright (A+, Civics)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Gideon vs. Wainwright is a US Supreme Court Case from 1963. The vote was unanimous. This court case decided under the fourth amendment, state courts are required to provide an attorney in criminal cases when the defendant cannot afford one.
Gideon v. Wainwright
In Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that if a defendant cannot afford a lawyer, one must be provided to him or her regardless of the defendant's ability to pay or the importance of the charges.
Gideon was the man denied the aid of an attorney at his trial, He sued, seeking the right to be provided with an attorney. The Supreme Court decided in his favor. Gideon won, Wainwright lost.
John Marshall was the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1801-1835); he didn't play a role in Gideon v. Wainwright,(1963), because he had been dead approximately 128 years by the time the case reached the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953-1969) presided over Gideon.
Those who cannot hire a lawyer shall have counsel provided for them.
Gideon was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of breaking and entering in a Florida state court in 1961. However, his case became significant due to the Supreme Court's ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright, which established the right to counsel for defendants in criminal cases who cannot afford an attorney. This decision ultimately led to his conviction being overturned, and he was released after serving time.