Gideon V. Wainwright Case Summary

Words: 364
Pages: 2
Open Document
Gideon, when charged with breaking and entering and having the intention of committing a misdemeanor, requested a lawyer from the court for defense.
He was told that counsel is only appointed in capital cases when the defendant is poor and cannot afford defense.
Gideon represented himself in court and was sentenced to five years.
He filed for writ of habeas corpus under the Florida Supreme Court because he saw his conviction as unconstitutional and was denied
He filed once again under the US Supreme Court and was reviewed.

Issue: “Does the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel in criminal cases extend to felony defendants in state courts? (legal counsel)”

Decision of the Court "Holding": With a unanimous, 9-0 rule for Gideon, the Supreme Court ruled that state courts must provide attorneys for criminal defendants who are unable to afford defense lawyers.

Reasoning: The right of the accused to have a proper and fair trial was vital in the eyes of the Framers. The Sixth Amendment states that counsel should be available and/or provided to the defendant in all criminal prosecutions. Because of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, the Sixth Amendment has been applied to the states. The Florida law that prevented Gideon from obtaining counsel is therefore unconstitutional. Taking into account another aspect of the Sixth Amendment, a trial cannot …show more content…
Wainwright established protections for individuals against the justice system, which is a presumptive system that is convinced of guilt before the conviction. The right to counsel can prevent this outlook from creating unjust trials. If poor people couldn’t receive counsel, the justice system would be balanced unfairly against them. Today, there are thousands of cases taken on by public defenders. Had this case not overruled the previous SCOTUS decision that only in capital cases would public defenders be assigned, many more people would be in prison, and an unfair percentage would be
Show More

Related Documents: Gideon V. Wainwright Case Summary

Gideon V. Wainwright Case Summary

petitioner, Gideon, was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. Following his imprisonment, he applied for a write of habeas corpus from the State Supreme Court, stating that his conviction violets his guaranteed rights by the constitution and the Bill of Rights. The State Supreme Court later denied him all relief. Subsequently, Gideon was then granted a writ of certiorari by the Supreme Court, and preceded in forma pauperis. The appellant and petitioner of the case is Gideon, while the respondent…

Words 1059 - Pages 5

What Is Earl Warren's Role In Criminal Justice

Board of Education, a case that had the power to end segregation or strengthen it. During the time of the Warren Court, segregation was in effect. The ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson meant that separate but equal facilities were common, including in schools. However, though the physical areas were usually equal, the intangible aspects were usually neglected in schools for African Americans. This was the case Brown brought before the court. The Supreme Court ruled that…

Words 607 - Pages 3

Miranda Rights Essays

when you are placed under an arrest it could actually get you off and case dropped. Lets start off by discussing the history of Miranda Rights and some details of the Miranda case that started it all. Miranda came about in 1966, when a 23-year-old, name Miranda, was arrested and transported from his home to the police station for questioning in connections with a kidnapping and a rape case. (1) According the to facts and case summary, “He was then interrogated by two police officers for two hours, which…

Words 1353 - Pages 6

Essay about The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison

The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison JEFFREY H. REIMAN American University or the same criminal behavior, the poor are more likely to be arrested; if arrested, they are more likely to be charged; if charged, more likely to be convicted; if convicted, more likely to be sentenced to prison; and if sentenced, more likely to be given longer prison terms than members of the middle and upper classes.1 In other words, the image of the criminal population one sees in our nation’s jails and prisons…

Words 12487 - Pages 50