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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the date of Gideon's reply to the Florida Attorney General's office that Gideon did not have right to counsel?
(a) May 25, 1963.
(b) November 22, 1963.
(c) January 15, 1966.
(d) April 21, 1963.

2. What is Gideon's state of mind as he prepares to go to trial at the Supreme Court?
(a) Anxious.
(b) Humbled.
(c) Confident.
(d) Frightened.

3. Justices of the Supreme Court have a higher power than ____________________.
(a) Any other judge in the country.
(b) The Vice President.
(c) The Attorney General.
(d) The President.

4. Why was Gideon in the hospital during this time?
(a) He was in a car accident.
(b) He had pneumonia.
(c) He had A-typical tuberculosis.
(d) He had gallbladder surgery.

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

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

7. Which of the following is NOT an area in which Abe Fortas is familiar?
(a) Tax law.
(b) U.S. Government.
(c) Corporations.
(d) U.S. Presidents.

8. What is one caveat for a person who brings a petition before the Supreme Court?
(a) He must have been hurt by a legal action.
(b) He must have money for an attorney.
(c) He must be indigent.
(d) He must be illiterate.

9. How many children does Gideon have?
(a) Three and a stepdaughter.
(b) Two and two stepchildren.
(c) Five.
(d) One and three stepchildren.

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

11. What does Henry Cook state that Gideon had in his hand when he saw him on the morning of June 3?
(a) A bottle of wine.
(b) A pizza.
(c) A gun.
(d) A knife.

12. How old was Gideon when his father died?
(a) 7.
(b) 9.
(c) 12.
(d) 3.

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

14. An attorney representing a client in a Supreme Court case gets money for ________________.
(a) Travel to and from Washington D.C.
(b) Hourly billing.
(c) Hotel accommodations.
(d) Food and entertainment.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Gideon say about the prison facilities for filing court documents?

2. How do some of the Supreme Court Justices consider their power?

3. How many justices sit on the Supreme Court?

4. What does Abe Fortas want before going to trial before representing Gideon?

5. Among the most important concepts for the Justices is the determination of _________________.

(see the answer keys)

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