Clarence Earl Gideon

Clarence Earl Gideon (August 30, 1910 – January 18, 1972) was a poor drifter accused in a Florida state court of felony breaking and entering. While in prison, he appealed his case to the US Supreme Court, resulting in the landmark 1963 decision Gideon v. Wainwright holding that a criminal defendant who cannot afford to hire a lawyer must be provided one at no cost.

Clarence Earl Gideon
Clarence Earl Gideon circa 1961
Born(1910-08-30)August 30, 1910
Hannibal, Missouri, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 1972(1972-01-18) (aged 61)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Occupations
  • Bartender
  • Tugboat Laborer
  • Electrician
  • Shoemaker
  • Pool Hall Owner
Criminal statusAcquitted
Conviction(s)Robbery, burglary, larceny, theft (multiple)
Criminal penaltyMultiple sentences

At Gideon's first trial in August 1961, he was denied legal counsel and was forced to represent himself, and was convicted. After the Supreme Court ruled in Gideon that the state had to provide defense counsel in criminal cases at no cost to the indigent, Florida retried Gideon. At his second trial, which took place in August 1963, with a court-appointed lawyer representing him and bringing out for the jury the weaknesses in the prosecution's case, Gideon was acquitted.

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