GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT & BETTS V. BRADY

Gideon v. Wainwright & Betts v. Brady

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Gideon v. Wainwright & Betts v. Brady

Introduction

This paper studies two case studies of Gideon v. Wainwright and Betts v. Brady, which is among the most significant law suits in the history of United States. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) is a significant precedent of United States Supreme Court which entails that the state makes arrangements for lawful defense when illegal defendant do not have sufficient wealth to appoint their own legal representative. This precedent directed to the increase of what are acknowledged as public defenders in the US.

The petitioner, Betts was accused for theft in Maryland's circuit court. He was poor and unable to hire a legal representative. Hence, he has asked the Court to assign him a lawyer, the Court brings in the petitioner's notice that it was not Courts' practice to hire advocate for poor defendants, other than the case of rape and murder.

Discussion

In Florida court, Gideon was charged in with breach and enters with aim to commit a crime, which refers to a misdemeanor in Florida. He was poor and unable to hire an advocate, but still his request for lawyer was rejected. Thus, he has represented himself, clearly not absurdly, but not adequately, and was found accountable. Appeal of Gideon to the Supreme Court of Florida was denied. The dilemma of whether or not states are compelled to offer advocate to defendants in cases of non-capital was the matter of much discussion at the instance, and it was widespread practice to refute it. The Supreme Court of United States had actually ruled (in Betts v. Brady that pending practice was a “less inflexible” notion than other civil liberties.

The 14th Amendment of United States Constitution does not exemplify an ...