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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many children and stepchildren does Gideon have with his second wife?

2. Henry Cook states that at the poolroom, the front was off the cigarette machine and ___________________.

3. The Supreme Court is bound not so much by laws as by the trends and ____________ of the Justices who serve.

4. What prior case had established the rules for assigning an attorney to a defendant.

5. How many does does the opposing side on a case have to respond once a petition submitted to the Supreme Court?

Short Essay Questions

1. What role has Gideon assumed while in prison regarding helping some of the other inmates?

2. What is the seeming difference between how the Supreme Court views indigence and how Gideon was treated in the lower court?

3. Why is Gideon allowed an attorney for his Supreme Court case and who is the man appointed to represent him?

4. What is meant by federalism and how could Gideon's Supreme Court case impact it?

5. Do the Supreme Court Justices get to decide which cases they will hear?

6. Describe some of Gideon's bad childhood experiences.

7. What major inadequacies does Fortas discover in the transcripts of Gideon's criminal trial?

8. What is Gideon's mood as he heads into his Supreme Court trial?

9. For what is Abe Fortas already known regarding influencing the Supreme Court to expand a certain ruling?

10. What compensation does an attorney representing a client in a Supreme Court case get?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a saying that "He who represents himself has a fool for a client." Clearly Gideon was set up for failure in trying to represent himself but what do you think of his methods? Was he on the right track? Was he intelligent enough to do a decent job with a little bit of guidance? Do you think Gideon thought he did a good job, at least before the verdict was read? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Define the Betts vs. Brady ruling. Why was it essentially unchallenged for 20 years? What happened to American critical thought in the years 1942-1962 that made it possible for Gideon's petition to be heard at the Supreme Court level? What was happening in the culture of America that almost demanded that Gideon's petition be heard? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the significance of the book's title. What did the author mean by calling the book GIDEON'S TRUMPET when Gideon is clearly not a musician? Expand your thinking and provide the best answer you can think of.

(see the answer keys)

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