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Gideon Supreme Court Case Essay

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On June 2, 1961, some items stolen from Bay Harbor Pool Room, such as five dollars and a few bottles of beer and soda. Henry Cook told the police that he had seen Clarence Gideon walk out of the pool hall with a bottle and his pockets filled with coins, then got into a taxi and left. Gideon was later taken to court, and when he asked for an attorney to defend him he was told that in the state of Florida,you can only be appointed an attorney if you are charged with a capital offense. Since he was only charged with breaking and entering,burglary,and the intent to commit petty larceny,he was not provided one.He did his best to represent himself in the case, but was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in the state prison. While Gideon …show more content…

He then went on to write to the United States Supreme Court, saying he had been denied counsel and his Sixth Amendment rights had been violated. The United States Supreme Court took his petition, and their decision was announced on March 18, 1963 that they ruled unanimously in favor of Gideon. Due to Gideon’s appeal,numerous other defendants were found to have had their Civil Rights violated. About 2000 individuals that had been convicted were freed in Florida alone as a result of the decision. Gideon’s case had another trial and he was acquitted and went on to resume his previous life. Major people that were involved in the case were Clarence Earl Gideon the plaintiff, Louie L. Wainwright the defendant, and H. G. Cochran, Jr. as the original respondent. The question about this trial was should a poor person who can't afford an attorney be able to have one provided for them so they could have an as equally fair trial as someone who could …show more content…

I assume people figured since they were already convicted, they didn't care enough to educate themselves on the legal system and the unfairness of it. If the law were applied equally,I believe there would be a lot less discrimination,prejudice,and unjust findings.Additionally,the training of law enforcement officers with regards to constitutional law would decrease discrimination,unconstitutional arrests and compensatory lawsuits.It would also lead to fewer citizens having their civil rights violated.If students in school were educated about their guaranteed constitutional rights given to them by the founders of this country, we would be a stronger nation, a more free people, and a happier society. That being said,I agree with Gideon that people who aren't able to afford a lawyer who has the knowledge and capability to properly defend them,should be provided one.The legal system should not have anything to do with your social status or financial status.I feel like the law should also go for people paying money to avoid a jail sentence.Some people can't afford to pay any money to avoid jail or other punishments,so they get sent to jail and then they have a record.Instead of having people pay money for their offenses,there needs to be more creative punishments,or community service. The whole process of paying to not go to jail even if you can't afford it is too complicated, long,and

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