Gideon v. Wainwright
- Decided
- March 18, 1963
- Docket
- No. 155
- Status
- Published
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
Cited 8,419 timesNo negative treatment found in this library
What later courts said
- holding that Sixth Amendment right to counsel extends to state court proceedings through the Fourteenth Amendment — Scott Nordstrom v. Charles Ryan (2014)
- holding that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel in criminal proceedings applies to states through the Fourteenth Amendment — Cooke v. State (2009)
- holding that a defendant has right to be represented by counsel in all criminal trials for serious offenses — Commonwealth v. Cam Ly (2009)
Each line is a later court’s own words about this case, not a summary. Read the opinion before relying on it.
How the opinion begins
Mr. Justice Black delivered the opinion of the Court.
Petitioner was charged in a Florida state court with having broken and entered a poolroom with intent to commit a misdemeanor. This offense is a felony under [*337] Florida law. Appearing in court without funds and without a lawyer, petitioner asked the court to appoint counsel for him, whereupon the following colloquy took place:
“The Court: Mr. Gideon, I am sorry, but I cannot appoint Counsel to represent you in this case. Under the laws of the State of Florida, the only time the Court can appoint Counsel to represent a Defendant is when that person is charged with a capital offense. I am sorry, but I will have to deny your request to appoint Counsel to defend you in this case.
Cite this
Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963)Read the full opinion
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