Gideon's Trumpet Quiz

in forma pauperis

a federal statute allows people to proceed in any federal court in the manner of a pauper (poor person) without following the usual forms or paying the regular costs. in forma pauperis cases only need to file one copy of a petition and handwritten documents are accepted.

Betts v. Brady

Betts v. Brady was a 1942 Supreme Court case that held the Sixth Amendment right to counsel did not apply to state courts under the Fourteenth Amendment, meaning states were not required to provide an attorney to impoverished defendants in felony cases.

Fourteenth Amendment

Gideon said his conviction violated the due-process clause of the 14th amendment.

14th amendment definition

grants citizen ship to all born in or naturalized in the US and prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law.