Gideon Vs Wainwright Case Study

Gideon V. Wainwright The case starts with the arrest of Clarence Earl Gideon who was charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit a misdemeanor. Gideon was a runaway, having left home around eighth grade he became a drifter. He wandered around from place to place and spent time in and out of prison of prison for many non-violent crimes. He eventually found some part time work at a pool club, the same club room he was accused of breaking into and robbing. This was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. On the night of June 3, 1961, a police officer discovered the door to the Bay Harbor Poolroom open, he went inside and saw that someone had clearly broken in. Gideon had been at the pool club that night and

Fortas argued Gideon 's case by using wether Betts V. Brady should be reconsidered. The Betts V. Brady case had ruled that (akin to Gideon’s) that the fourteenth amendment requires states to appoint counsel only under special circumstances. It has been an unpopular standard and was constantly criticized but nevertheless was in effect. In only two short months, the verdict for Gideon 's case had been decided, Betts V. Brady was found unconstitutional, as it violated the sixth amendment 's right to a fair and speedy trial and that looking at the fourteenth amendment, which guarantees due process of law, the court was wrong to not have appointed Gideon a lawyer. The court then ruled that Gideon should be given a retrial, this time with a court appointed

This means that those charged with lesser crimes are pushed to the back of their caseloads. Public defenders are overworked and underpaid meaning that many times they cannot do their job to the best of their abilities. Sadly because of this system, many of their clients sit in holding cells for months or years, awaiting for a trial that is continually pushed off by their attorney. While the system of free public defenders seemed like an equal foot for criminal clients to stand on in the justice system, it is in reality a very messy and disorganized system that overlooks those without the most pressing issue.
Gideon V. Wainright was a landmark case, arguably one of the most important cases of the sixties. It brought about equality and fair justice. It was a case that spoke a lot of Warren court and their policies. It was symbolic of the new era and with it a symbol of equality and fairness. The rights of the accused were radically changing and people all around america were begining to see it. No longer was court a place for the wealthy, no longer were those who could not afford proper defense cast aside and convicted. Instead equality