Go to next caseClarence Earl Gideon was arrested for attempting to break and enter a poolroom with intent to commit a misdemeanor. Under Florida state law, this was a felony. Gideon, who was illiterate and had no money to hire a competent attorney, requested council be appointed. At the time, such appointment of council was only required by law in cases where the defendant was facing capital punishment. The trial judge ruled that Gideon was competent enough to handle his own defense as well as any man. Gideon was convicted and sent to prison, where he filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court. The Court agreed to hear his case and council was appointed to him. The Supreme Court found in favor of Gideon, overruling Betts v. Brady. In doing so, it declared that all defendents in felony cases had the right to an attorney. Justice Hugo Black, in writing for the majority, stated that the Court was "returning to...old precedents, sounder we believe than the new." Gideon was given a new trial with a lawyer and the jury acquitted him.
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