50 Book Challenge - Book 16
Book 16: Gideon’s Trumpet, by Anthony Lewis
In spring of 1963, the Supreme Court decided the case of Gideon v. Wainwright, which established the right of poor people to be appointed counsel in state felony prosecutions. Gideon’s Trumpet, published the next year, tells the story of this famous case, from Gideon’s self-represented trial and state court appeals to his petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court, the briefing, oral arguments, and immediate aftermath of the decision.
Writing for laymen, Lewis takes care to explain the legal process and to define the legal terms he uses. His focus on the people behind the case keeps things interesting, but the precedent and arguments contained in the briefs are discussed as well, so it don’t feel like you’re missing out on the legal side of the case. Not a bad read, even though Lewis does fawn a little too much over Abe Fortas, Gideon’s assigned lawyer (and future Supreme Court Justice), and the legal system in general.