Clarence Earl Gideon

Clarence Earl Gideon was an American who was charged with felony theft but lacked legal representation at his trial because the court didn’t appoint a lawyer for him. He believed this violated his constitutional right to a fair trial. His case eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled that states must provide legal defense to those unable to afford it in criminal cases. This landmark decision established the right to an attorney’s counsel regardless of financial status, significantly shaping criminal justice law and ensuring fair trial standards nationwide.