Betts v. Brady
United States Supreme Court
316 U.S. 455 (1942)
Relevant factsFree
Betts (defendant), charged with robbery in Maryland, could not afford a lawyer and asked the state to appoint one, but Maryland only appointed counsel in murder and rape cases and refused his request. Betts chose a bench trial, called alibi witnesses himself, and was convicted and sentenced to eight years. After two unsuccessful habeas petitions in state court, Betts sought Supreme Court review, arguing the denial of appointed counsel violated the Fourteenth Amendment.
IssueFree
Whether a state must provide appointed counsel to every indigent criminal defendant, regardless of the crime charged, under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.