Betts V. Brady: Court Case
History 368
Midterm Essay Examination
Part 1, #1
Betts v. Brady in 1942 is a court case about an indigent white man named Betts who was charged with robbery. As soon as Betts got arrested he requested council and he was immediately denied. Betts was extremely poor, and he was very backwards to society. The reason why he was denied council was because his request for council was not handled as “special circumstances.” Justice Owen Roberts viewed Betts as an ordinary citizen, one with “ordinary intelligence and ability to take care of his own interests on the trial of a narrow issue.” When Betts went to trial he did not have a lawyer and he had to represent himself. Obviously, Betts lost his trial and he had to serve his time in jail. While Betts was in jail he appealed to the Supreme Court explaining that he was …show more content…
Brady decided that council was only required under certain/special circumstances. About 20 years later, another similar case arose, Gideon v. Wainwright. Gideon was arrested and denied council, lost his trial, and was sentenced to jail. However, after appeal, Gideon eventually ended up winning his case. Clarence Earl Gideon was a fifty- one- year old man who had been in and out of jail for most of his life. He eventually got caught Panama City, Florida, at the Bay Harbor Poolroom for breaking in to the establishment. He, like Betts, was a very poor man and he asked for council and was rejected. The book says, “The judge refused, and Gideon was convicted and sentenced.” Gideon’s entire trial lasted less than one day. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to five years in prison. During Gideon’s five year jail sentence he mailed a petition that was handwritten on a piece of lined paper. He sent this letter directly to the Supreme Court. The book goes on to say that, “Gideon did not know that he was asking the Court to reverse itself.” Gideon then waited to see if he would ever hear from the Supreme Court and be granted another
Midterm Essay Examination
Part 1, #1
Betts v. Brady in 1942 is a court case about an indigent white man named Betts who was charged with robbery. As soon as Betts got arrested he requested council and he was immediately denied. Betts was extremely poor, and he was very backwards to society. The reason why he was denied council was because his request for council was not handled as “special circumstances.” Justice Owen Roberts viewed Betts as an ordinary citizen, one with “ordinary intelligence and ability to take care of his own interests on the trial of a narrow issue.” When Betts went to trial he did not have a lawyer and he had to represent himself. Obviously, Betts lost his trial and he had to serve his time in jail. While Betts was in jail he appealed to the Supreme Court explaining that he was …show more content…
Brady decided that council was only required under certain/special circumstances. About 20 years later, another similar case arose, Gideon v. Wainwright. Gideon was arrested and denied council, lost his trial, and was sentenced to jail. However, after appeal, Gideon eventually ended up winning his case. Clarence Earl Gideon was a fifty- one- year old man who had been in and out of jail for most of his life. He eventually got caught Panama City, Florida, at the Bay Harbor Poolroom for breaking in to the establishment. He, like Betts, was a very poor man and he asked for council and was rejected. The book says, “The judge refused, and Gideon was convicted and sentenced.” Gideon’s entire trial lasted less than one day. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to five years in prison. During Gideon’s five year jail sentence he mailed a petition that was handwritten on a piece of lined paper. He sent this letter directly to the Supreme Court. The book goes on to say that, “Gideon did not know that he was asking the Court to reverse itself.” Gideon then waited to see if he would ever hear from the Supreme Court and be granted another