Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Reversing an earlier ruling in Betts v. Brandy (1942), the Court held that the Sixth Amendment guaranteed access to qualified counsel, which was "fundamental to a fair trial." This ruling came about when Clarence Gideon, a Florida man, was charged with breaking into a pool hall and taking money from vending machines there. At Gideon's hearing, he asked the court to appoint a lawyer to represent him since he could not afford one himself. The court denied his request, responding that Florida law provided counsel only in capital-offense cases. At trial, Gideon tried his best to represent himself, making his own opening statement to the jury, cross-examining the State's testifying witnesses, presenting witnesses of his own and making a short argument emphasizing his innocence. However, the jury returned a guilty verdict, and Gideon convicted of a felony and sentenced to serve five years in state prison.
Gideon appealed to the Supreme Court, petitioning the trial court's refusal to arrange legal counsel for him denied him of his rights "guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the United States." The Supreme Court found that Gideon's Sixth Amendment right to counsel had indeed been violated. The Court reversed the conviction and ordered a re-trial, this time with the help of a attorney. At the second trial, Gideon was found not guilty. After this decision, states were required to furnish legal counsel for defendants who are unable to afford an attorney in felony cases. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972), the ruling was extended to all cases that might result in imprisonment.