Gideon's Trumpet

Name: Gideon's Trumpet
Released: 1980-04-30
Duration: 120 min
Cast: Sam Jaffe, Fay Wray, Paul Benjamin, Dean Jagger, David Clennon

S29 E3 April 30, 1980 2h 0m

Source:

Overview

Clarence Earl Gideon, a semi-literate drifter, is arrested for breaking into a pool room and for petty theft. When he asks the court to appoint a lawyer for his defense because he cannot afford one, his request is denied. Acting as his own lawyer, Gideon is convicted and sent to jail. While in prison, he begins a hand-written campaign directed to the U.S. Supreme Court, contending that every defendant is entitled to legal representation. The Court agrees to hear Gideon's case, and, in a landmark decision, rules in his favor.