Gideon v. Wainwright 1963
Must states provide a lawyer to defendants in felony cases who cannot afford one?
372 U.S. 335 (1963)Criminal justice
- The question
- Must states provide a lawyer to defendants in felony cases who cannot afford one?
- What the Court held
- Yes. The right to counsel is fundamental and applies to the states.
- The vote
- 9–0
- Read the opinion
- 372 U.S. 335 (1963), full text
This page summarizes the Court’s judgment in neutral terms. The opinion, concurrences and dissents are the authority; read them for the reasoning.