Who is Clarence Gideon?
Clarence Earl Gideon. Clarence Earl Gideon (August 30, 1910 – January 18, 1972) was a poor drifter accused in a Florida state court of felony theft.
Who was Gideon’s lawyer?
Fortas and Krash represented him before the Supreme Court, and Turner was his lawyer when he was acquitted at the second trial. As we enter the 50th anniversary of Gideon, it is important to remember the contributions these lawyers made to this historic case.
What happened to Clarence Gideon at his first trial?
Clarence Earl Gideon. At Gideon's first trial, he represented himself and was convicted. After the Supreme Court ruled that the state had to provide defense counsel for the indigent, Florida retried Gideon. At his second trial, which took place in August 1963, with a lawyer representing him and bringing out for the jury the weaknesses in...
How did Clarence Earl Gideon die?
Clarence Earl Gideon died of cancer on January 18, 1972, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hannibal, Missouri. For more information about Clarence Earl Gideon’s life and career, see the following resources:
Did Clarence Gideon get a lawyer?
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear his case and assigned a lawyer named Abe Fortas to represent him. Fortas would go on to become a member of the U.S. Supreme Court. He argued on Gideon's behalf that all individuals accused of committing a felony should receive legal representation.
Who was Gideon's first lawyer?
Gideon had no counsel at his first trial, but he did have an attorney at the second—Fred Turner, a local criminal defense lawyer and later Circuit Judge.
What happened when Clarence Gideon requested an attorney?
When Gideon appeared in court, his request for a court-appointed lawyer was denied. Florida law only required lawyers for defendants charged with capital offenses. Gideon had no choice but to defend himself at his trial. He was found guilty, and sentenced to five years in prison.
Who was Gideon's lawyer in his second trial?
Fred TurnerFred Turner. Fred Turner is the Bay County, Fla., criminal defense lawyer who represented Clarence Gideon at his second trial after the Supreme Court had ruled with Gideon and had remanded the case.
Who was the state of Florida attorney in Gideon's trial?
Wainwright holding that a criminal defendant who cannot afford to hire a lawyer must be provided one at no cost. At Gideon's first trial in August 1961, he was denied legal counsel and was forced to represent himself, and was convicted....Clarence Earl GideonCriminal penaltyMultiple sentences8 more rows
Why was Gideon denied a lawyer?
At trial, Gideon appeared in court without an attorney. In open court, he asked the judge to appoint counsel for him because he could not afford an attorney. The trial judge denied Gideon's request because Florida law only permitted appointment of counsel for poor defendants charged with capital offenses.
What was unusual about the petition Gideon filed with the Supreme Court of the United States?
3. What was unusual about the petition Gideon filed with the Supreme Court of the United States? The petition Gideon filed with the Supreme Court of the United States was handwritten and prepared by Gideon himself without any legal assistance.
Why did Gideon v. Wainwright happen?
The case began with the 1961 arrest of Clarence Earl Gideon. Gideon was charged with breaking and entering into a Panama City, Florida, pool hall and stealing money from the hall's vending machines. At trial, Gideon, who could not afford a lawyer himself, requested that an attorney be appointed to represent him.
What would happen if Clarence Gideon had not been in prison?
If an obscure Florida convict named Clarence Earl Gideon had not sat down in prison with a pencil and paper to write a letter to the Supreme Court; and if the Supreme Court had not taken the trouble to look at the merits in that one crude petition among all the bundles of mail it must receive every day, the vast machinery of American law would have gone on functioning undisturbed. But Gideon did write that letter; the court did look into his case; he was re-tried with the help of competent defense counsel; found not guilty and released from prison after two years of punishment for a crime he did not commit. And the whole course of legal history has been changed.
Who is Clarence Gideon's father?
Clarence Earl Gideon was born in Hannibal, Missouri. His father, Charles Roscoe Gideon , died when he was three. His mother, Virginia Gregory Gideon, married Marrion Anderson shortly after. Gideon, after years of defiant behavior and chronic 'playing hooky', quit school after eighth grade, aged 14, and ran away from home, living as a homeless drifter. By the time he was sixteen, Gideon had begun compiling a petty crime profile.
How long was Gideon in prison?
On August 4, 1961, Gideon was convicted of breaking and entering with intent to commit petty larceny, and on August 25, Judge McCrary gave Gideon the maximum sentence, five years in state prison. Gideon v. Wainwright.
Why did Gideon defend himself at his first trial?
First trial. Being too poor to pay for counsel, Gideon was forced to defend himself at his trial after being denied a lawyer by the trial judge, Robert McCrary Jr. At that time, Florida law only gave indigent defendants no-cost legal counsel in death penalty cases.
What amendment did Judge McCrary violate?
He concluded that Judge McCrary had violated his constitutional right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, applicable to Florida through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
How did Gideon die?
After his acquittal, Gideon resumed his previous way of life and married for a fifth time some time later. He died of cancer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 18, 1972, at age 61. Gideon's family had him buried in an unmarked grave in Hannibal.
How many people were freed in the Gideon case?
About 2,000 convicted people in Florida alone were freed as a result of the Gideon decision; Gideon himself was not freed, but instead received another trial. He chose W. Fred Turner to be his lawyer for his retrial, which occurred on August 5, 1963, five months after the Supreme Court ruling.
What was Clarence Gideon's role in the American legal system?
Clarence Earl Gideon was a career criminal whose actions helped change the American legal system. Accused of committing a robbery, Gideon was too poor to hire a lawyer to represent him in court. After he was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, Gideon took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a landmark legal decision, Gideon v.
Who was the lawyer for Gideon?
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear his case and assigned a lawyer named Abe Fortas to represent him. Fortas would go on to become a member of the U.S. Supreme Court. He argued on Gideon’s behalf that all individuals accused of committing a felony should receive legal representation.
What happened to Gideon in 1928?
After starting out at two dollars a day, he was assigned a job at the factory that paid twenty-five dollars a day. When he lost his job in 1928, Gideon began committing crimes.
What is the Supreme Court ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright?
Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that under the U.S. Constitution, state courts are required to appoint lawyers for those individuals accused of committing a crime who cannot pay for legal representation. Gideon was born on August 30, 1910, to Charles R. and Virginia Gregory Gideon in Hannibal, Missouri.
How long was Gideon in prison?
A lawyer—not a great lawyer, just an ordinary, competent lawyer—could have made ashes of the case.”. Gideon was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. Gideon refused to give up, however, and began to research the law.
How old was Clarence when his mother remarried?
When Clarence was five years old, his mother remarried. He later remembered, “My stepfather never could accept me or I could not accept him. My mother was very strict and my life as a child was of the strict discipline.”. He described himself as someone who could not conform and “was miserable.
What did the Supreme Court say about Gideon?
On March 18, 1963, all nine members of the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gideon, stating in part, “Lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries.”. As a result, Gideon did not go free, but he did receive a new trial with legal representation and was acquitted of robbing the pool hall.
What was Clarence Gideon's case?
Convicted of breaking and entering in Florida, Clarence Earl Gideon set a major legal precedent when he challenged his conviction, claiming that he could not afford an attorney and should have been appointed one by the court.
What did Gideon petition for?
Claiming he had the right to an attorney, but could not afford one, Gideon petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for a writ of habeas corpus. After the Court denied Gideon’s petition, as a last resort, he submitted a handwritten petition to the Supreme Court of the United States for a writ of certiorari.
What did Gideon steal from the pool?
on the morning of the crime, Gideon allegedly smashed a window leading into the pool room and stole approximately a dozen bottles of beer, a dozen bottles of Coca-Cola, several bottles of wine, about $5.00 from the cigarette machine, and $60.00 from the jukebox. Police arrested Gideon on a tip given to them by Henry Cook, ...
Who was the guy who broke into the pool?
Gideon, a 50-year-old unemployed Caucasian with a long history of juvenile and adult felonies, was convicted of breaking and entering into the Bay Harbor Pool Room on June 3, 1961, in Panama City, Florida. At around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of the crime, Gideon allegedly smashed a window leading into the pool room and stole approximately ...
Early life
Clarence Earl Gideon was born in Hannibal, Missouri. His father, Charles Roscoe Gideon, died when he was three. His mother, Virginia Gregory Gideon, married Marrion Anderson shortly after.
Arrest, conviction, and Gideon v. Wainwright
On June 3, 1961, $5 in change and a few bottles of beer and soda were stolen from the Pool Room, a pool hall and beer bar that belonged to Ira Strickland Jr. Strickland also alleged that $50 was taken from the jukebox.
Later life
After his acquittal, Gideon resumed his previous way of life and married for a fifth time some time later. He died of cancer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 18, 1972, at age 61. Gideon's family had him buried him in an unmarked grave in Hannibal.
Portrayal on film
Gideon was portrayed by Henry Fonda in the 1980 made-for-television film Gideon's Trumpet, based on Anthony Lewis' book of the same name. The film was first telecast as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series, and co-starred Jose Ferrer as Abe Fortas, the attorney who pleaded Gideon's right to have a lawyer in the US Supreme Court.
How did Gideon get relief from his conviction?
Gideon sought relief from his conviction by filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the Florida Supreme Court. In his petition, Gideon challenged his conviction and sentence on the ground that the trial judge’s refusal to appoint counsel violated Gideon’s constitutional rights. The Florida Supreme Court denied Gideon’s petition.
Why did the Florida Supreme Court deny Gideon's request for a court appointed attorney?
Lower Court Ruling: The trial judge denied Gideon’s request for a court-appointed attorney because, under Florida law, counsel could only be appointed for a poor defendant charged with a capital offense. The Florida Supreme Court agreed with the trial court and denied all relief.
What was Gideon's charge?
Gideon was charged with breaking and entering with the intent to commit a misdemeanor, which is a felony under Florida law.
What court did Gideon file a petition in?
The Florida Supreme Court denied Gideon’s petition. Gideon next filed a handwritten petition in the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court agreed to hear the case to resolve the question of whether the right to counsel guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution applies to defendants in state court.
Who was Gideon's cellmate?
Gideon's cellmate was a former Palm Beach lawyer and municipal judge named Joseph A. Peel Jr., who was convicted of murdering a rival judge and his wife. 9 Jacob's source for that interesting tidbit was none other than his friend and colleague W. Fred Turner, the able attorney who represented Gideon at his retrial.
When did Gideon go to jail?
Gideon asserted that right in open court on August 4, 1961, when he was put on trial for breaking and entering the Bay Harbor Pool Hall in Panama City, Fla. Forced to represent himself, he still pled not guilty and tried his best to defend himself. He was convicted.
How many felony convictions did Gideon have?
Gideon had at least four felony convictions and a host of minor infractions and arrests on his record. He spent more than half of the next two decades behind bars, but he was also something of an escape artist. The first time he was locked up, at age 15, he escaped from the Hannibal jail.
How long was Gideon in jail?
In 1951, he was convicted of an unspecified crime in Texas and served 13 months. 6. In most of the prisons in which Gideon had done time, prisoners routinely filed appeals and petitions claiming, per Betts v.
How did Gideon die?
Gideon died of cancer in Florida on January 18, 1972. He was only 61 years old. His family brought his body back to Hannibal, and buried him in an unmarked grave, a few feet from his natural father, Charles Roscoe Gideon.
Was Gideon in prison?
Born august 30, 1910, in Hannibal, MO., Gideon had been in and out of prisons since he was 16. His father, a shoemaker, died when he was three, and his mother remarried.
Was Clarence Gideon educated?
Clarence Earl Gideon was not well-educated, but he was far from dumb or ignorant. A benign sort of career criminal (according to relatives, he just had a problem with stealing), 1 more of his arrests ended with dismissals or acquittals than convictions.
Gideon Appeals
Gideon was outraged by the verdict, particularly the fact that he had been denied counsel. He applied to the Florida Supreme Court for a writ of habeas corpus, an order freeing him on the ground that he was illegally imprisoned.
Suggestions for Further Reading
The Guide To American Law. St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing Co., 1984.
Why was Gideon denied a lawyer?
In open court, he asked the judge to appoint counsel for him because he could not afford an attorney. The trial judge denied Gideon's request because Florida law only permitted appointment of counsel for poor defendants charged with capital offenses. The Florida Supreme Court denied Gideon's petition.
How well did Gideon defend himself?
Gideon was convicted of breaking and entering the pool room, and stealing lots of drinks and money. How well did Gideon defend himself in his first trial in Panama City? Not well because he had no lawyer, no evidence, he didn't know what to ask the witnesses, and he didn't know what to tell the jury.
Why was Clarence Gideon in jail?
Clarence Earl Gideon was a career criminal whose actions helped change the American legal system. Accused of committing a robbery, Gideon was too poor to hire a lawyer to represent him in court. After he was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, Gideon took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Why did the Supreme Court agree to hear Gideon's case?
He asked the Supreme Court to review his case "because the 'due process clause' of the fourteenth admendment of the constitution and the fifth and sixth articales of the Bill of rights has been violated" sic. Gideon argued that he had been denied a lawyer, which violated his Sixth Amendment rights.
What did Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black Think about Gideon's appeal?
The court declined to appoint counsel for Gideon. Wainwright before the case was heard by the Supreme Court. Gideon argued in his appeal that he had been denied counsel and, therefore, his Sixth Amendment rights, as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, had been violated.
Why did the court believe that Gideon?
Gideon argued that the Court should do so because the Sixth Amendment says that everyone is entitled to a lawyer. While in prison, he began studying law in the prison library, believing that his Sixth Amendment rights had been violated when he was denied a defense lawyer paid for by the State.
What happened Danny Escobedo?
ESCOBEDO SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR MURDER ATTEMPT. Danny Escobedo, whose name became famous in criminal law because of a precedent-setting case involving a suspect`s right to consult a lawyer, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Cook County Criminal Court to attempted murder and was sentenced to 11 years and 2 months in prison
Abe Fortas
- Abe Fortas was the editor in chief of the Yale Law Journal. After graduation he served as a faculty member at Yale. He then went to work for the government during the New Deal. In 1946 he was a founding partner of Arnold, Fortas & Porter. It became a very prominent Washington, D.C., law fir…
Abe Krash
- Abe Krash was a partner of Abe Fortas at Arnold, Fortas & Porter.20 He was the principal lawyer with Fortas on the brief in the Gideoncase. In their brief, the petitioners argued that a defendant in a criminal case cannot effectively prepare a defense and defend himself or herself at trial. Usually, an indigent is in jail and, therefore, is unable to investigate or question witnesses. Not trained in t…
Conclusion
- Clarence Gideon did not have a lawyer at his first trial, in 1961, but from that point on he had the very best representation that our legal system could provide. He was assisted in his case by the American Civil Liberties Union,57 which was an amicus in the case, and by the attorneys general of 22 states, who filed an amicus brief in his behalf in the Supreme Court,58 and by others includ…
Notes
- 372 U.S. 335 (1963).
- This information was obtained from Wikipedia.
- 214 F.2d 862 (D.C. Cir. 1954).
- Daniel McNaghten’s Case, 8 Eng. Rep 718 (1843). Under this test, to establish a defense based on insanity it must be proven that, at the time of committing the act the defendant was labori…
- 372 U.S. 335 (1963).
- This information was obtained from Wikipedia.
- 214 F.2d 862 (D.C. Cir. 1954).
- Daniel McNaghten’s Case, 8 Eng. Rep 718 (1843). Under this test, to establish a defense based on insanity it must be proven that, at the time of committing the act the defendant was laboring under...
A Conversation with Bruce R. Jacob
- Bruce Jacob, who represented Florida before the U.S. Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright, has handled countless pro bono cases during his career. In addition to writing a profile of Clarence Gideon’s lawyers, he agreed to answer a few questions about the case and about the state of indigent defense. The Champion: When you argued Gideon v. Wainwrightin the Supreme Court, d…
Overview
Clarence Earl Gideon (August 30, 1910 – January 18, 1972) was a poor drifter accused in a Florida state court of felony theft. While in prison, he appealed his case to the US Supreme Court, resulting in the landmark 1963 decision Gideon v. Wainwright holding that a criminal defendant who cannot afford to hire a lawyer must be provided one at no cost.
Early life
Clarence Earl Gideon was born in Hannibal, Missouri. His father, Charles Roscoe Gideon, died when he was three. His mother, Virginia Gregory Gideon, married Marrion Anderson shortly after. Gideon, after years of defiant behavior and chronic truancy, quit school after eighth grade, aged 14, and ran away from home, becoming a homeless drifter. By the time he was sixteen, Gideon had begun compiling a petty crime profile.
Criminal life
On June 3, 1961, $5 in change and a few bottles of beer and soda were stolen from the Pool Room, a pool hall and beer bar that belonged to Ira Strickland Jr. Strickland also alleged that $50 was taken from the jukebox, $437.30 by January 15, 2022. Henry Cook, a 22-year-old resident who lived nearby, told the police that he had seen Gideon walk out of the bar with a bottle of wine and his pockets filled with coins, and then get into a cab. Gideon was later arrested at a tavern.
Later life
After his acquittal, Gideon resumed his previous way of life and later married for the fifth time. He died of cancer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 18, 1972, at age 61. Gideon's family had him buried in an unmarked grave in Hannibal. The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union later added a granite headstone, inscribed with a quote from a letter Gideon wrote to his attorney, Abe Fortas: "Each era finds an improvement in law for the benefit of mankind."
Portrayal on film
Gideon was portrayed by Henry Fonda in the 1980 made-for-television film Gideon's Trumpet, based on Anthony Lewis' book of the same name. The film was the first telecast as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series, and co-starred Jose Ferrer as Abe Fortas, the attorney who pleaded Gideon's right to have a lawyer in the US Supreme Court. Fonda was nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Gideon.
See also
• Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
External links
• State of Florida vs Clarence Earl Gideon (transcript of second trial, August 5, 1963) from Florida's Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
• King, Jack (June 2012). "Clarence Earl Gideon: Unlikely World-Shaker". The Champion. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. p. 58.
• Clarence Earl Gideon, Petitioner, vs. Louis L. Wainwright, Director, Department of Corrections, Respondent
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