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Gideon's Trumpet
Gideon's Trumpet
Author: Anthony Lewis
By Robert F. Kennedy: "If an obscure Florida convict named Clarence Earl Gideon had not sat down in his prison cell...to write a letter to the Supreme Court...the vast machinery of American law would have gone on functioning undisturbed. But Gideon did write that letter, the Court did look into his case...and the whole course of American legal...  more »
ISBN: 76783
Pages: 262
Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1

5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Vintage
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
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Top Member Book Reviews

Patouie avatar reviewed Gideon's Trumpet on + 132 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What a fascinating look at a sliver of the justice system -- one case, and how it was processed through the Supreme Court. These days we can't imagine that a person could be sent to prison for years without the benefit of legal council, if he couldn't afford it. This is the case that changed all that -- and not all that long ago, either.

I couldn't stop thinking about this book.
reviewed Gideon's Trumpet on
Helpful Score: 1
This book does a good job of explaining complex legal concepts to laypeople. If you're a lawyer, it's less interesting because much of the book is like a simplified version of a Fed Courts class (stuff you already know).
jrw avatar reviewed Gideon's Trumpet on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
If you're interested at all by interpretation of the law, Gideon's Trumpet is a very good read. The author provides background information, explains certain pertinent legal terms, and logically lays out the story of not only this one title case, but the very workings of the United States Supreme Court circa 1963. Several times I found myself laughing and at other times being logically challenged. It is a great, entertaining book for law students and non-lawyers alike.
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reviewed Gideon's Trumpet on
I had to read this for a Political Science class. It was a fun read. Recommended!
reviewed Gideon's Trumpet on + 9 more book reviews
A case study of Gideon v. Wainwright, the right to counsel for poor criminal defendants. The book covers U.S. Supreme Court procedures and step-by-step preparation for briefs and oral arguments of the case. The Epilogue covers Gideon's retrial in Florida. The movie is good, but the book is great.
treehuggernumberone avatar reviewed Gideon's Trumpet on
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.


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