logo

42 pages 1 hour read

Gideon’s Trumpet

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1964

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Index of Terms

Amicus Curiae

Translated literally as “friend of the court,” an amicus curiae is a person who—while not technically party to a case—is able to help a court reach a decision by providing information, insight, or expertise on a particular issue. In the instance of Gideon’s case before the Supreme Court, the amicus curiae is actually a collection of lawyers from states across the country who speak in favor of Gideon’s cause. Their informed opinion is used by Fortas as supporting material in his claim.

Betts v. Brady

Betts v. Brady was a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court that denied counsel to indigent defendants in cases where they were being prosecuted by the state. It was ruled upon in 1942 and, for two decades, meant that states did not have a federal requirement to assign a legal counsel to defendants. The ruling was slowly eroded over the years as concessions were made until—in 1963—Gideon v. Wainwright overturned Betts v. Brady.

Brief

In the context of the Supreme Court, a brief is a document submitted to the Court that presents the argument of one particular party. A brief is written by the prosecutor and the defendant before the trial and is submitted before the trial begins.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 42 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,600+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools