The Sixth Amendment
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Source: http://www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1962/1962_155
Constitutional Connection: Sixth Amendment, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."
Explanation of Connection: The case of Gideon v. Wainwright is an example of the sixth amendment. In this trial, Gideon was accused of breaking and entering, and had to go to court. Because of lack of money to appoint an attorney he asked the court to appoint counsel for him. The court denounced his plea, saying that they only appoint attorneys for poor people and people with higher crimes. Gideon defended himself in court and was sentenced to 5 years in state prison. The question the Supreme Court faced was, did the state court's failure to appoint counsel for Gideon violate his right to a fair trial and due process of law as protected by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments? And the justices of the Supreme Court decided in favor of Gideon 9-0. This decision overruled the decison in Betts v. Brady.
I believe that this trial was a major checkpoint in the United States history of the judicial system. Similar to the outcome of Miranda v. Arizona, this trial changed the way the system works. Because Gideon stood up and proclaimed that this was a disadvantage, now everyone has the right to an attorney. People that were probably innocent before this trial that faced the same situation an went to jail, could have been proven innocent if they would have had their appointed counsel. I agree with Justice Black who said this right was an "obvious truth". This trial was basically common sense, because everyone should have the right to have a professional represent them no matter what class they are.
Constitutional Connection: Sixth Amendment, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."
Explanation of Connection: The case of Gideon v. Wainwright is an example of the sixth amendment. In this trial, Gideon was accused of breaking and entering, and had to go to court. Because of lack of money to appoint an attorney he asked the court to appoint counsel for him. The court denounced his plea, saying that they only appoint attorneys for poor people and people with higher crimes. Gideon defended himself in court and was sentenced to 5 years in state prison. The question the Supreme Court faced was, did the state court's failure to appoint counsel for Gideon violate his right to a fair trial and due process of law as protected by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments? And the justices of the Supreme Court decided in favor of Gideon 9-0. This decision overruled the decison in Betts v. Brady.
I believe that this trial was a major checkpoint in the United States history of the judicial system. Similar to the outcome of Miranda v. Arizona, this trial changed the way the system works. Because Gideon stood up and proclaimed that this was a disadvantage, now everyone has the right to an attorney. People that were probably innocent before this trial that faced the same situation an went to jail, could have been proven innocent if they would have had their appointed counsel. I agree with Justice Black who said this right was an "obvious truth". This trial was basically common sense, because everyone should have the right to have a professional represent them no matter what class they are.
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