GIDEON V WAINWRIGHT Noah K Clarence Earl Gideon

GIDEON V WAINWRIGHT Noah K.

Clarence Earl Gideon was charged with felony breaking and entering in 1963. Since he was a high school dropout with a criminal history, he could not afford his own attorney, and requested to the judge that one be appointed for him, but his request was denied since the court was only required to appoint counsel for poor defendants that commit capital offenses. Gideon was forced to represent himself at trial, and was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.

SELF - ADVOCATE Gideon filed a petition in the Florida Supreme Court that challenged his conviction and sentence on the grounds that his constitutional rights were violated when the judge denied him representation. This petition was denied

Gideon then filed a second petition in the United States Supreme Court, and they agreed to hear his case. The Court overturned the conviction. They ruled that his 6 th and 14 th (due process) were violated

WHY WAS THIS A LANDMARK CASE? Gideon V Wainwright established that the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of counsel is a fundamental right and is essential to a fair trial, and denying a defendant of representation no matter the offense impairs the fairness of the trial.

http: //www. uscourts. gov/educational-resources/educationalactivities/facts-and-case-summary-gideon-v-wainwright https: //www. oyez. org/cases/1962/155 http: //landmarkcases. org/en/landmark/cases/gideon_v_wainw right https: //www. britannica. com/event/Gideon-v-Wainwright