Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Clarence Earl Gideon was arrested for breaking into a Florida Pool Hall to commit larceny

( Bay Harbor Pool Hall)

Clarence Earl Gideon

At trial- Gideon requested a court appointed lawyer (He couldn’t afford his own)

Judge refused his request

Florida only provided free counsel if your case involved “special circumstances” (death penalty, unusually complex, illiterate, insanity, etc.)

Gideon conducted his own defense

He was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison(had previous convictions)

Raiford PrisonVerdict?????????

While in prison Gideon submitted a handwritten appeal

US Supreme Court agrees to hear his case

Abe Fortas is appointed to represent him before the SC

The Supreme Court decided Gideon did not receive a fair trial

The SC orders a new trial- this time with a lawyer

(same courtroom, same judge)

Abe Fortas

Chief Justice

Earl Warren

Tom Clark Hugo Black Earl Warren William Douglas John Harlan (Chief Justice)

Byron White William Brennan Potter Stewart Arthur Goldberg

U.S. Supreme Court (1963)

New trial-

Verdict??????

Found Not Guilty

Significance: Established a person’s right to a court appointed lawyer (if you can’t afford your own) to ensure a fair trial