Gideon's Trumpet: The Poor Man and the Law Face the Nation : Season 10 Episode 1
TV-PG CBS 1h 00m int(0)
Aired: October 7th, 1964 on CBS
"Gideon's Trumpet: The Poor Man and the Law" launches the series' new season. The program documents the story of Clarence Earl Gideon, the ex-convict whose petition to the Supreme Court led to a new ruling establishing absolute right to counsel in a felony case. Gideon and the original participants are seen in a reenactment of his first trial. Others on the program include Florida state and prison officials; attorney Abe Fortas, who successfully argued the case before the Supreme Court; Florida Circuit Court judge Robert L. McCrary Jr.; and attorney W. Fred Turner, who defended Gideon in his second trial. Martin Agronsky reports.