Gideon's Trumpet
Chapter 1 describes Gideon�s claim to the Supreme Court (hereafter simply the Court).Gideon petitioned the Court in forma pauperis, in the manner of a pauper.An in forma pauperis petition exempts indigent plaintiffs without having to pay the normal fees associated with the petitioning the Court and also provides for wide discretion in the filing of affidavits for the Court.Lewis states that the Court�s �Rule 53 allows an impoverished person to file just one copy of a petition, instead of the forty ordinarily required, and states that the Court will make �due allowance� for technical errors so long as there is substantial compliance� (4).
From his initial filing to the Court, it appears as though Gideon made a substantial effort to comply with the standards set by the Court in regard to in forma pauperis petitions.Gideon�s application was written in pencil, but he included the affidavit required to proceed in forma pauperis and he appeared to have filed within the required 90 days of the lower court decision.In his petition, Gideon also provided the Court with a copy of his habeas corpus petition that he filed to the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court�s rejection of that petition.
In his petition, Lewis states that Gideon provided little, if any, personal information.Lewis describes Gideon as a destitute man who bore the marks of a destitute life.Gideon was 51 years old at the time of his petition to the Court.He had been convicted on four previous felonies.According to Lewis, hardly anyone would describe Gideon as a violent man; rather, Gideon was a man who found great difficulty in settling down and working to live.Thus, Gideon often turned to crime.
In his filing to the Court, Gideon�s case was originally titled Gideon v. Cochran.Gideon�s primary submission to the Court was a 5-page petition for writ of certiorari, which is a petition asking the Court to bring the case up from the lower court.Gideon had been convicted of breaking and
From his initial filing to the Court, it appears as though Gideon made a substantial effort to comply with the standards set by the Court in regard to in forma pauperis petitions.Gideon�s application was written in pencil, but he included the affidavit required to proceed in forma pauperis and he appeared to have filed within the required 90 days of the lower court decision.In his petition, Gideon also provided the Court with a copy of his habeas corpus petition that he filed to the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court�s rejection of that petition.
In his petition, Lewis states that Gideon provided little, if any, personal information.Lewis describes Gideon as a destitute man who bore the marks of a destitute life.Gideon was 51 years old at the time of his petition to the Court.He had been convicted on four previous felonies.According to Lewis, hardly anyone would describe Gideon as a violent man; rather, Gideon was a man who found great difficulty in settling down and working to live.Thus, Gideon often turned to crime.
In his filing to the Court, Gideon�s case was originally titled Gideon v. Cochran.Gideon�s primary submission to the Court was a 5-page petition for writ of certiorari, which is a petition asking the Court to bring the case up from the lower court.Gideon had been convicted of breaking and