March 18 is the anniversary of the important Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright (1963).
The Court said that states must give a lawyer to people charged with serious crimes if they cannot afford one.
Bill of Rights Institute: Gideon v. Wainwright
Does everyone have the right to a lawyer, no matter what crime they are accused of?
In 1961, Clarence Gideon was arrested in Florida for breaking into a building and stealing. He asked for a lawyer, but Florida law only provided lawyers for people charged with serious crimes like murder. Gideon was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. He believed this was unfair and claimed Florida had violated his 6th Amendment right to a lawyer.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear his case, *Gideon v. Wainwright*. In a 9-0 decision, the Court ruled that the 6th Amendment’s right to a lawyer applies to all states through the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause. This decision ensured that everyone accused of a crime has the right to a lawyer, even for less serious crimes.
Learn more from the Bill of Rights Institute:
Other resources:
- ACLU: Gideon: Unfulfilled at 60
- Center for Civic Education: The Sixth Amendment
- Center for Civic Education: Amendments to the Constitution playlist
- iCivics: The Right to a Fair Trial - Teaching the Sixth and Seventh Amendments
- iCivics: The Constitution Explained playlist
- iCivics: You've Got Rights! lesson plan
- VOA Learning English: What Happens If You Are Arrested in the US
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