Supreme Court Explorer
Gideon v. Wainwright
372 U.S. 335
Holding / constitutional rule
Required states to provide counsel to indigent defendants charged with serious criminal offenses.
Why it matters
A central right-to-counsel and incorporation decision affecting criminal courts nationwide.
Connected Research
Government research source
Constitution Annotated / CRS search →
The holding and significance above are concise editorial summaries, not quotations from the opinion. Follow the government source to review constitutional analysis and underlying case authorities.