Betts v. Brady

Betts v. Brady (1942) was a U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed whether indigent defendants—those who cannot afford a lawyer—must be provided legal counsel in state criminal trials. The Court ruled that providing a lawyer is not always required in all cases, and it depends on the circumstances, such as the complexity of the case and the defendant’s ability to defend themselves. This decision allowed states to decide when to offer lawyers for poor defendants. However, the ruling was later overruled by Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), which established the right to a public defender in all felony cases.