The Sixth Amendment guarantees that ''in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.'' Until 1963, this meant defendants could hire lawyers but states didn''t have to provide them. In Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states must appoint free lawyers for defendants too poor to afford one in felony cases. Clarence Earl Gideon, a Florida drifter accused of breaking into a pool hall, handwrote a petition from prison arguing he couldn''t get a fair trial without a lawyer. The Court agreed, and Gideon won acquittal at his retrial with a public defender. The ruling created public defender systems nationwide. Later cases extended the right to any case where jail time is possible and to critical pre-trial stages like lineups and plea negotiations. The right doesn''t guarantee a good lawyer, just a competent one. Public defenders carry crushing caseloads: some handle 500-900 cases yearly, leaving minutes per client. The American Bar Association says defenders should handle no more than 150 felonies annually. Underfunded systems violate Gideon''s promise daily.