50 years later, court budget cuts threaten Gideon v. Wainwright decision

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Mar 18, 2013

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50 years later, court budget cuts threaten Gideon v. Wainwright decision

Fifty years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that in criminal cases, state courts must provide counsel for defendants who are unable to afford an attorney. The case was Gideon v. Wainwright, and though it's a half-century old, the decision may be more timely than ever due to budget cuts on the California court system.

The U.S. Supreme Court building is draped in a photo-realistic sheet during a repair and preservation project December 7, 2012, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court announced on Friday that it will take up cases on whether same-sex marriage should be banned in California and whether legally married gay couples can get the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.

Fifty years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that in criminal cases, state courts must provide counsel for defendants who are unable to afford an attorney. The case was Gideon v. Wainwright, and though it's a half-century old, the decision may be more timely than ever due to budget cuts on the California court system.

Fifty years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that in criminal cases, state courts must provide counsel for defendants who are unable to afford an attorney.

The case was Gideon v. Wainwright, and though it's a half-century old, the decision may be more timely than ever due to budget cuts on the California court system.

For more on this issue, we're joined now by Tani Cantil-Sakauye, California's chief justice.