View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who does Gideon marry ten months after his first marriage?
(a) Ruth Babineaux.
(b) Babs Devereaux.
(c) Tonya Robichaux.
(d) Yvette Mimieux.

2. What is the question the Justices say is before them when deciding to hear Gideon's case?
(a) How many more men like Clarence Earl Gideon are sitting in America's prisons?
(b) Are we not bound to provide legal justice for all men in this country?
(c) Why should the U.S. Supreme Court have to get involved with a petty larceny case?
(d) Should this Court's holding in Betts vs. Brady, 316 U.S. 455, be reconsiderd?

3. The Supreme Court is bound not so much by laws as by the trends and ____________ of the Justices who serve.
(a) Ideas.
(b) Ideals.
(c) Opinions.
(d) Prejudices.

4. With whom does Gideon file a petition?
(a) The U.S. Supreme Court.
(b) The American Civil Liberties Union.
(c) The NAACP.
(d) The Florida Appellate Court.

5. Which of the following falls into the category of "special circumstances" for those on trial?
(a) Illiterate.
(b) Mentally ill.
(c) Young.
(d) All of these.

6. Why does the Florida Attorney General say Gideon did not have the right to counsel?
(a) He was insane.
(b) He was clearly guilty.
(c) The rules of Betts vs. Brady.
(d) He had too many prior convictions.

7. Abe Fortas learns that the ______________________ of Gideon's first trial was/were not recorded.
(a) Verdict.
(b) Judge's ruling.
(c) Opening and closing arguments.
(d) Witness statements.

8. Other than Gideon, who is the only person who could have filed Gideon's petition to the Supreme Court?
(a) His wife.
(b) His son.
(c) His father.
(d) His attorney.

9. Gideon says that his court trial violated the _____________ Amendment.
(a) First.
(b) Fourteenth.
(c) Tenth.
(d) Fifth.

10. Where is the U.S. Supreme Court located?
(a) Washington D.C.
(b) New York.
(c) Philadelphia.
(d) Boston.

11. How many pages does Gideon's Supreme Court petition contain?
(a) 11.
(b) 15.
(c) 23.
(d) 5.

12. How many justices sit on the Supreme Court?
(a) 12.
(b) 9.
(c) 8.
(d) 6.

13. Who is appointed to represent Gideon in his Supreme Court trial?
(a) Abe Rothstein.
(b) Abe Fortas.
(c) Abe Fourman.
(d) Abe Vigoda.

14. In Gideon's reply to the Florida Attorney General's document, Gideon states that he can't cite laws such as the Florida Attorney General has, but that he "_____________________________."
(a) Is trying to learn the best he can.
(b) But he will look them up if it takes forever.
(c) Has good intentions.
(d) Knows there are many of them.

15. Who is the central person in GIDEON'S TRUMPET?
(a) Clarence Earl Gideon.
(b) Earl Thomas Ray.
(c) James Hall Gideon.
(d) Clarence James Thomas.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Gideon's job in prison?

2. What does each Supreme Court justice receive regarding petitioners' requests?

3. Abe Fortas had previously argued the case that expanded the Supreme Court's ruling on ____________.

4. How old is Gideon?

5. Who did Gideon marry in 1955?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 460 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample