Which landmark case guaranteed the right to counsel for those who cannot afford it?

Which landmark case guaranteed the right to counsel for those who cannot afford it?

• A. Gideon v. Wainwright
• B. Miranda v. Arizona
• C. Brown v. Board of Education
• D. Marbury v. Madison

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the right to have a lawyer provided when you can’t afford one. In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of counsel applies to state as well as federal prosecutions, and that when a defendant cannot afford an attorney, the state must supply one. This ensures a fair trial by giving indigent defendants access to qualified legal representation, recognizing that without counsel they’re at a substantial disadvantage. The decision also used the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause to apply this protection to the states, expanding the right nationwide. Other well-known rulings address different protections: Miranda v. Arizona focuses on informing individuals of their rights during police questioning; Brown v. Board of Education concerns the legality of racial segregation in schools; Marbury v. Madison established judicial review.

The main idea here is the right to have a lawyer provided when you can’t afford one. In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of counsel applies to state as well as federal prosecutions, and that when a defendant cannot afford an attorney, the state must supply one. This ensures a fair trial by giving indigent defendants access to qualified legal representation, recognizing that without counsel they’re at a substantial disadvantage. The decision also used the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause to apply this protection to the states, expanding the right nationwide.

Other well-known rulings address different protections: Miranda v. Arizona focuses on informing individuals of their rights during police questioning; Brown v. Board of Education concerns the legality of racial segregation in schools; Marbury v. Madison established judicial review.