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429th out of 2,087 books
—
3,728 voters
Gideon's Trumpet
A history of the landmark case of James Earl Gideon's fight for the right to legal counsel. Notes, table of cases, index. The classic backlist bestseller. More than 800,000 sold since its first pub date of 1964.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
April 23rd 1989
by Vintage
(first published 1964)
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I read this book before I went to law school. It was supposed to be the inspiring story of how we all came to have the right to an attorney.
I thought it was dull and was actually the story of how a florida redneck who was arrested for burglary got in touch with a bunch of high powered attorneys with an agenda.
Appellate law is not interesting even when it is novelized.
I thought it was dull and was actually the story of how a florida redneck who was arrested for burglary got in touch with a bunch of high powered attorneys with an agenda.
Appellate law is not interesting even when it is novelized.
The news this week of the death of Anthony Lewis at age 85 was enough to send me scurrying to the bookcase to dig out my copy of Gideon's Trumpet and reread it. Clarence Earl Gideon was arrested in Florida on a charge of breaking and entering and he was forced to represent himself at his trial because he couldn't afford an attorney. Gideon felt that this was a violation of his constitutional right to be represented by counsel and while he was in a Florida prison he sat down and wrote a petition...more
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There is no illusion at all that Gideon is a hero or he did not owe his victory entirely to the legal and social momentum, which were outside of his control and already pointing to overturn Betts. But it is also worthwhile to remember the facts here, that man like him, an outcast at the very bottom of the society, had the tenacity and courage to pursue what he deemed just and not gave up hope. My eyes got wet when first looked at Gideon's pencil-written petition for cert on prison mail paper. Th...more
A lot of different things helped push me down the road to law school. There's that scene in The Verdict when Paul Newman tells Charlotte Rampling about justice("See, the jury believes. The jury wants to believe...All of them...say, 'It's a sham, it's rigged, you can't fight city hall.' But when they step into that jury box...you just barely see it in their eyes..."). There's also the (as yet unrealized) promise of financial security. Maybe the most noble motivator I had was Anthony Lewis's Gideo...more
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I have always been a reader, and whenever possible, I have tried to read what my children are reading. It started out with 'The Hungry Caterpillar', progressed to the Harry Potter series and now I am immersed in British Victorian novels and socio-political classics (which it turns out that I am no better at deciphering in my 50's than I was in my 20's) . So when my eldest son decided to go to law school, my husband and I encouraged him to read some of the recommended classics in the history of l...more
Really important content. I really liked the story of Gideon himself - I think, given both the importance of the case and the sparse language of the Gideon opinion, sharing his background adds a lot to what the lawyers and the judges were thinking about when this case was litigated. And I appreciated that they told the story of Gideon's second trial - it explains why counsel is important in all cases, not just those where the accused is obviously incapable of defending himself from criminal char...more
I had the opportunity to see Anthony Lewis speak recently and found him fascinating. So fascinating that I went back and read this now classic of Supreme Court literature. Written in 1964, it's the story of how one indigent man brought his case all the way to the highest court in the land. But it's much less the story of Clarence Earl Gideon than it is of Civil Liberties, particularly as they relate to criminal law and the Supreme Court. With accessible and compelling writing, Gideon's Trumpet i...more
A pretty good discussion of federalism, stare decisis, and judicial review.
But I didn't care much for the final chapter describing what the author viewed as the Court's role as policy maker. I thought it was oversimplified and at times lacking in impartiality. For example, in disagreeing with the Lochner decision on p. 231, the author says "A Court that thought it knew best . . . said that a state could not limit bakers' work to ten hours a day." But then on the same page, the author praises Jus...more
But I didn't care much for the final chapter describing what the author viewed as the Court's role as policy maker. I thought it was oversimplified and at times lacking in impartiality. For example, in disagreeing with the Lochner decision on p. 231, the author says "A Court that thought it knew best . . . said that a state could not limit bakers' work to ten hours a day." But then on the same page, the author praises Jus...more
Jun 25, 2012
Chase
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those interested in the legal proccess of the Supreme Court system
Recommended to Chase by:
My teacher, It was a summer assignment...
Shelves:
rereads-to-be-enjoyed-later
To be honest, I'm only reading this out of obligation to my AP goverment class I'm taking for my senior year of high school.
So far, I'm squatting on page 94, and its due on the first day of school. In addition to reading, there are 23 terms to be defined (As in Powell v. AL, Amicus curiae, judical restraint, ect..) and nine questions to be answered (The first being a summary of 3 to 5 paragraphs, and then a one paragraph minimun for the others)on this book.
So, I'm not to crazy about it. This wo...more
So far, I'm squatting on page 94, and its due on the first day of school. In addition to reading, there are 23 terms to be defined (As in Powell v. AL, Amicus curiae, judical restraint, ect..) and nine questions to be answered (The first being a summary of 3 to 5 paragraphs, and then a one paragraph minimun for the others)on this book.
So, I'm not to crazy about it. This wo...more
Terrific book. I had never read anything about our Supreme Court and this turned out to be a great start. This is a pretty incredible story about one man who, without the help of a lawyer, appealed his case to the highest court in the land and eventually won. The accused's right to a lawyer, and thus due process, would be considered as fundamental as any other. However, up until this case, states had a free hand to decide when an indigent defendant would be afforded one by the state. The author...more
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I read this in preparation for a continuing legal education class which will involve discussion of the book. I was not looking forward to reading it as I suspected it would be very dry and difficult to plough through. It was actually a very easy read. The author wrote in a manner which would allow a lay person to understand the Supreme Court appellate process, and effectively personalized the Gideon v. Wainwright decision. I think this would be a great book for law students to read, and is also...more
This book discusses the significance of a single case: Gideon v. Cochran, a 1962 case that overturned an earlier case (Betts v. Brady) and established that everyone had the right to an attorney for criminal cases, and if you couldn’t afford an attorney, it was the court’s obligation to provide you one. The book details the judicial context during which the case was argued, how it was argued before the Court, and why the particular arguments mattered. Overall, it’s a nice primer on how the Suprem...more
A dry, dated (think Warren Court, with issues of racial equality still in the center of national consciousness) account of the Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, regarding the right to counsel for the indigent.
The book was very informative - not hard to do, since I knew next to nothing about the case - but the author made arguments in the vein of The Inevitable Tide of History Was On Gideon's Side, so I was a bit skeptical. The book also ends with a high-falootin', shmaltzy chapter - misp...more
The book was very informative - not hard to do, since I knew next to nothing about the case - but the author made arguments in the vein of The Inevitable Tide of History Was On Gideon's Side, so I was a bit skeptical. The book also ends with a high-falootin', shmaltzy chapter - misp...more
Nov 30, 2007
kimberly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
lawyers, those fascinated by justice and the mysterious supreme court
Shelves:
law-books
Often, I am discouraged with my profession. The slow-moving machinary of the judiciary is not perfect, but both Gideon and To Kill a Mockingbird remind me why I'm a lawyer. I wish I had read Gideon before starting my clerkship. For one reason, we had an entire right to counsel issue that I would have understood better after this book. Additionally, it discusses the role of a law clerk and how the judicial system works. Dude, this is more helpful than my staff attorney manual!
But most of all, I...more
But most of all, I...more
No one today would argue against the fact that Gideon v. Wainwright had a positive impact on the legal system. People should have the right to an attorney and this book explains not only why, but also celebrates the fact that a poor prisoner could affect our law. In fact, "How one man, a poor prisoner, took his case to the Supreme Court-- and changed the law of the United States" sits over the title on the wonderfully designed cover of my edition of the book.
However, I got a strange feeling whil...more
However, I got a strange feeling whil...more
Despite the fact that you've heard it before, still good. (Indeed, I still hope to never read another book that explains certiorari or that the most junior judge opens the door to the conference.) Perhaps best of all was the stuff about the amicus briefs and how embittered and defensive Gideon was because that's the stuff that did not show up in the TV movie.
The author is clearly root, root, rooting along and in love with the idea that somehow Gideon made it happen. (It has been argued elsewhere...more
The author is clearly root, root, rooting along and in love with the idea that somehow Gideon made it happen. (It has been argued elsewhere...more
Provided a lot of insight on a case that seems, from the outset, a relatively straightforward case. Really takes a good look at all the different factors that come into play - precedent, social influences, federalism, and of course the different personalities on the court. The book does a good job providing background for those not super familiar with the judicial process.
Good, solid book on a landmark case that had a huge impact on our society.
Good, solid book on a landmark case that had a huge impact on our society.
Mar 02, 2013
Colette
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
law-school-and-law-related
Law nerd alert! I loved this book, which added so much background to the case which I vaguely remembered from Con Law. Having a legal background definitely helps with understanding the procedural history and appellate rules though the book is accessible to the lay reader. I usually avoid legal books in pleasure reading because I want an escape from practicing law, but this book was rewarding and humanized the case for me.
"...Gideon is something of a 'nut,' [and:] his maniacal distrust and suspicion lead him to the very borders of insanity. Upon the shoulders of such persons are our great rights carried."
I'm a public defender for prison inmates. When I read the statement above in the epilogue, I was amused and relieved to learn that Gideon was a lot like many of my own clients.
I'm a public defender for prison inmates. When I read the statement above in the epilogue, I was amused and relieved to learn that Gideon was a lot like many of my own clients.
A good look at the landmark Supreme Court case, Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) (that all defendants in major criminal cases deserve the right to counsel), not long after it was decided. Anthony Lewis really humanizes Gideon and the lawyers who argued the case in front of the Supreme Court. It is also very interesting to see Lewis's perspective on Justices still alive who today are merely history, especially Justices Hugo Black and Felix Frankfurter. In addition, it is funny to see which predictions...more
The first book I have read for law school since A Civil Action in 1L that wasn't a case book or supplement.
Whew. Law school should require more books like this. It is the story of how the right to representation for the indigent in all criminal cases was codified by the Supreme Court.
Somewhat uplifting, somewhat depressing.
Whew. Law school should require more books like this. It is the story of how the right to representation for the indigent in all criminal cases was codified by the Supreme Court.
Somewhat uplifting, somewhat depressing.
A very good read. Definitely gets one all rah-rah democracy and rah-rah constitution yet with nuance and thoughtfulness. Also, not one-sided as Lewis does a good job of showing Ass’t Attorney General Jacob as a sympathetic guy who really did believe that everyone has a right to counsel but ultimately believed more in states’ rights. I felt bad for the guy sending out a letter to all 50 states asking for an Amicus Brief to support Betts v. Brady but ending up getting Amicus Briefs from many of th...more
Classic book on constitutional law that I never got around to reading. Even though it was written 40 years ago, it was very insightful on workings of the Supreme Court. I had not realized what a fair accompli Gideon's case was, but still a good reminder that constitutional cases involve individuals.
Probably as good a tale of the inner workings of the Supreme Court and one mans fight for legal justice as your going to get. It is an accessible but legalistic story of a man who could be said to have beat the system. The book is rather dated, that being the system in place in the early sixties when Blacks were Negroes and the mentally challenged, morons. But the story is gripping. I found some parts slow because of the oft cited precedents and court cases and the author unnecessarily enamored...more
Aug 07, 2007
Lubna
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those interested in law
A book discussing the landmark Supreme Court case, Gideon v. Wainwright, which guaranteed the indigent a right to counsel in all criminal cases. It discusses the people behind the case, such as Gideon - the man accussed, the method & process of bringing the case to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court decision. I think this book is best for those who have not gone to law school - if you have any knowledge of Con Law/Crim Pro/Supreme Court litigation, then this book is really really slow...more
The Supreme Court of the United States, and many player and institutions closely working with it, wanted the result in Gideon v. Wainwright before Gideon had written his application for the Court to hear iti.
Had to read as research for a loved one who's considering law. Recommended to me by a lawyer I respect. A great read for anyone considering law. Terrific story. If the reader is not a lawyer, it gets dry in the middle, but definitely plow through to the ending of the tale. All true. All heartening.
It's an interesting look at how a case progresses through to the supreme court. Even more interesting because Gideon v. Wainwright was a landmark decision extending the right to counsel to all criminal cases.
I had to read this book in high school, and 12 years later, its message is still with me. One of the most compelling and instructive books of narrative nonfiction I've read.
Even if you have no interest in the law, this is just a great story of a man fighting for his rights. Move over John Grisham - this is the real deal.
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