Gideon v. Wainwright 1963: Right to Counsel

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10-Although the Bill of Rights guarantees certain freedoms and liberties, there have been many questions and changes over the years. In the 1960s, two important cases came before the Supreme Court and radically altered our criminal justice system. The 1963 Gideon v. Wainwright decision guaranteed all people the right to counsel and the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona case resulted in the well-known Miranda warning, which states that suspects have the right to remain silent and are entitled to have an attorney present while they are being questioned. These books offer a complete look at how each case was built, argued, and decided. Carefully detailed background notes and quotations from lawyers, suspects, and judges are included. In a straightforward text, the entire process is explained, as well as the workings of the Supreme Court itself. The results of each case and its impact on the police, courts, suspects, and society at large are discussed. Well-researched, fact-filled titles for reports.-Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY