Gideons Trumpet Essay -- Clarence Earl Gideon Gideon v. Wainwright

Gideons trump cardGideons Trumpet is the true story of a man named Clarence Earl Gideon, a educated drifter who is arrested for burglary and petty theft. The book takes its readers back through one mans moving account that became a constitutional landmark. Gideons Trumpet was written to recall the history behind the Gideon v. Wainwright court case and how it made such an enormous impact on United asserts law. On the wickedness of June 3, 1961, Clearance Gideon broke into a pool room and smashed a cigarette machine and a juke box, taking some money from both and cigarettes. Later that morning a witness reported seeing Gideon break into the pool hall. The police found him a few hours later with a dry pint of wine and some spare change, he was arrested and charged with breaking and entering. At his trial Gideon could not afford a lawyer, so he asked the judge to form him one, Gideon argued that the Court should appoint him one because the Sixth Amendment says that everyone is entitl ed to a lawyer. The judge turned down his request, saying that the state did not have to pay a poor persons legal defense unless he was charged with a capital crime or that special circumstances existed. Gideon was left to represent himself in court. Gideon did a horrible job of defending himself in court. He was found guilty of breaking and entering and petty larceny, which was a felony. Gideon was sentenced to five years in Florida State prison mostly due to his prior...