Gideon v. Wainwright
· Case: Gideon v. Wainwright
· Year: 1963
· Result: 9-0, favor Gideon
· Related constitutional issue/amendment:Amendment 6: Right to a Counsel/Lawyer and Due Process of Law
· Civil rights or Civil liberties: Civil Liberties
· Significance/Precedent: Gideon had the right to be represented by an attorney. The Court found that the 6th Amendment's “right to a counsel” and the due process of law were rights and were necessary for a fair trial. A fair trial can’t be possible for a poor defendant who can’t afford nor have a lawyer. This case is significant because if this case would not have happened, citizens would not have the right to a lawyer if they don't have the money to pay for one.
· Quote from majority opinion: “Gideon had a right to be represented by a court-appointed attorney The Sixth Amendment's guarantee of counsel was a fundamental right, essential to a fair trial, which should be made applicable to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It is an obvious truth that a fair trial for a poor defendant could not be guaranteed
without the assistance of counsel. Lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries."
· Illustration/image: See Below
· 6-word summary: Right to Counsel, Poor no lawyer
· Year: 1963
· Result: 9-0, favor Gideon
· Related constitutional issue/amendment:Amendment 6: Right to a Counsel/Lawyer and Due Process of Law
· Civil rights or Civil liberties: Civil Liberties
· Significance/Precedent: Gideon had the right to be represented by an attorney. The Court found that the 6th Amendment's “right to a counsel” and the due process of law were rights and were necessary for a fair trial. A fair trial can’t be possible for a poor defendant who can’t afford nor have a lawyer. This case is significant because if this case would not have happened, citizens would not have the right to a lawyer if they don't have the money to pay for one.
· Quote from majority opinion: “Gideon had a right to be represented by a court-appointed attorney The Sixth Amendment's guarantee of counsel was a fundamental right, essential to a fair trial, which should be made applicable to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It is an obvious truth that a fair trial for a poor defendant could not be guaranteed
without the assistance of counsel. Lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries."
· Illustration/image: See Below
· 6-word summary: Right to Counsel, Poor no lawyer