Question

the sixth amendment guarantees rights related to a fair trial, including the right to an attorney. gideon v. wainwright was a case about these rights. read the passage about the case. then answer the question below.

in 1961, clarence earl gideon was arrested for breaking into a pool hall and stealing various items inside. when the case went to trial, the defendant argued that he could not afford an attorney and asked the court to provide one for him. the judge refused, and he was found guilty after representing himself. gideon appealed to the supreme court that his sixth amendment right to an attorney had been violated.

the supreme court ruled in gideons favor, saying that the right to legal representation is a fundamental part of our democracy. justice hugo black wrote that \any person brought into court, who is too poor to hire a lawyer, cannot be assured a fair trial unless counsel is provided for him.\ as a result of this decision, many other criminal cases were retried, with the government supplying free attorneys called public defenders to represent defendants who couldnt otherwise afford a lawyer.

how did gideon v. wainwright affect the rights of criminal defendants?

defendants can request a delay in their trial until they can afford to pay for an attorney.

defendants who cannot afford an attorney must be given a lawyer paid for by the government.

defendants are legally required to be represented by an attorney at their own expense.

defendants who refuse their right to an attorney can ask for a second trial if they are found guilty.

Explanation:

To answer, we analyze the passage: The Supreme Court ruled that Gideon's Sixth Amendment right to an attorney was violated. The result was that the government provided free attorneys (public defenders) for defendants who couldn't afford one. Now we check the options:

• First option: The passage doesn't mention delaying trials to afford an attorney. Eliminate.
• Second option: Matches the outcome (government - paid lawyers for those who can't afford one).
• Third option: The ruling was about providing attorneys for those who can't afford, not requiring defendants to pay for their own. Eliminate.
• Fourth option: The passage doesn't discuss retrials for those who refused an attorney. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. Defendants who cannot afford an attorney must be given a lawyer paid for by the government.