USpreme Court Case Study

United States Supreme Court cases are argued and decided on Constitutional grounds. All arguments and decisions are based on interpretations of the original Constitution and, more often, on Constitutional amendments. GIDEON v. WAINWRIGHT In June 1961, Clarence Gideon was arrested and charged with breaking and entering in Bay Harbor. He was tried in a Florida Circuit Court in August 1961. Gideon stated in Court that he was unable to afford a lawyer and asked the Judge to appoint one for him. The Judge said he was sorry but he could not do that, because the laws of Florida called for appointment of counsel only when a defendant was charged with a capital offense [where the death penalty might be imposed]. When the Florida courts denied his claim, he went to the Supreme Court. In his prison he submitted a petition, handwritten in pencil, arguing that Florida had ignored a rule laid down by the Supreme Court: " that all citizens tried for a felony crime should have aid of counsel." Oral arguments were heard on January 15,1962 and the decision was announced on March 18, 1963. However, Gideon was wrong. The rule applied by the Supreme Court at that time was in fact exactly the opposite. The Constitution,
Betts was indicted for robbery in a Maryland state court. On arraignment, he told the trial judge of his lack of funds to hire a lawyer and asked the court to appoint one for him. Betts was advised that is was not the practice in the county for indigent defendants except in murder and rape cases. He was founded guilty by the judge, sitting without jury, and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Betts argued that he had been denied the right to assistance of counsel in violations of the 14th Amendments. Betts was denied any relief, and on review this Court let the lower court-ruling