View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What "stupid answer" does Jacob give in response to a Justice?

2. What can be said about Gideon in that he stuck to the process of filing an appeal?

3. Which law school does John Hart Ely attend?

4. Which organization submits a brief in support of Gideon's petition?

5. Who typed Jacob's legal brief in the Gideon case?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the next step after the Supreme Court rules in Gideon's favor?

2. What are a couple reasons that the Supreme Court works so well in terms of independent thinking?

3. Why is Gideon's Supreme Court case called Gideon vs. Wainwright?

4. What change on the Supreme Court bench seems fortunate for Gideon's case?

5. What is Justice Black's statement about Betts when he offers the Supreme Court opinion?

6. What does John Hart Ely discover about Florida cases while doing research for Gideon's Supreme Court case?

7. What form of support does Jacob get to help him defend the state position in the trial?

8. What is State Judge Walter V. Schaefer's reasoning on why the right to an attorney is greater than all other rights?

9. What is Jacob's opinion on the retroactive element of any law which may evolve from Gideon's Supreme Court case?

10. Compare and contrast the legal resources for Jacob representing states' rights and Fortas representing just one man.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Gideon. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What is his primary motivation?

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Abe Fortas. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What is his primary motivation?

Essay Topic 3

Gideon's story unfolds in the early 1960s, a time when the ravages of World War II are not a very distant memory and change is happening in almost every aspect of American life. What effect did the time period in which Gideon lived help his case? Does Gideon understand his place in history now that he has changed court procedures in America? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,016 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample