Gideon's Trumpet (film)

"Gideon's Trumpet" is a television film based on the true story of Clarence Earl Gideon, who was charged with a crime in Florida in the early 1960s. Unable to afford an attorney, he represented himself at trial and was convicted. Gideon appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that his right to legal counsel was violated. The Court's landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainwright in 1963 established that defendants in criminal cases have the right to free legal representation if they cannot afford one. The film highlights issues of justice, fairness, and the rights of individuals in the legal system.