What was the outcome of Gideon v. Wainwright?

• A. State courts must provide counsel in all civil cases
• B. State courts are required to provide counsel in criminal cases
• C. It ruled that defendants do not have the right to legal representation
• D. It stated that attorneys must be private only

Answer: (B)

The outcome of Gideon v. Wainwright established that state courts are required to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants who cannot afford an attorney. This landmark decision, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1963, expanded the rights of criminal defendants, solidifying the principle that legal representation is fundamental to a fair trial as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. The Court ruled that the right to counsel is a necessity for ensuring fair legal processes, emphasizing that courts must appoint attorneys for defendants unable to hire their own.

The context of this case stems from Clarence Earl Gideon's conviction for a felony in a Florida state court, where he was denied a public defender based on the state law at the time that only provided for counsel in capital cases. Gideon represented himself during the trial and was subsequently convicted, but he appealed his case to the Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled that the right to counsel is essential to a fair trial, thus requiring states to provide free legal counsel to indigent defendants.