The Gideon Case - by Bruce R Jacob (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book offers an unparalleled history of the pivotal legal battle
that established the right to a public defender and reshaped the
American justice system, written by the lawyer who argued and lost the
case before the Supreme Court.

Book Synopsis

The complete history of the pivotal legal battle before
the Supreme Court that established the right to a public defender and reshaped
the American justice system, written by a lawyer closely involved in the case

The "Gideon" Case offers an
unparalleled inside view of the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright case, written
by Bruce Jacob, the assistant attorney general who argued the case for the
state of Florida in 1963. Gideon, who was charged with a felony, could not
afford a lawyer and had petitioned the US Supreme Court for his right to a
court-appointed lawyer. The court ruled unanimously in Gideon's favor, creating
the right to counsel for all indigent defendants facing criminal felony charges
in every state in the union.

From the details of Gideon's initial
arrest in Florida to the momentous ruling in Washington, this book presents a close
account of the courtroom scenes, constitutional debates, and personal
transformations sparked by one of the most consequential decisions in Supreme
Court history. After losing the case, Jacob, now in private practice,
immediately became a volunteer public defender, and for the next 55 years as a
law professor continued to provide free legal help to indigent defendants and
appellants in criminal cases. With behind-the-scenes accounts of key figures,
in-depth analysis of constitutional law, and a vivid portrayal of legal
practice in the early 1960s, this book is an essential read for historians,
legal scholars, and anyone intrigued by the workings of the US justice system.

About the Author

Bruce R. Jacob is professor emeritus and dean emeritus at the
Stetson University College of Law. In 1963, as assistant attorney general of
Florida, Jacob argued and lost the Gideon v. Wainwright case before the
US Supreme Court. He then became a law professor and dean of two law schools,
taught constitutional law, founded legal assistance programs, and taught law
students how to represent defendants in criminal cases.