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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. What is a legal document submitted to the Supreme Court from anyone who may have something helpful to add to a case?

2. What does Abe Fortas think would be the best way for the Justices to understand Gideon's case?

3. What can a lay person not be expected to know?

4. The Supreme Court Justices are aware that many of the cases they hear are the result of __________________.

5. How might Gideon have known about the Carnley vs. Cochran case?

Short Essay Questions

1. What flaw does Fortas present in determining decisions on a case-by-case basis?

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

3. Who is Bruce Robert Jacob and what is his role in Gideon's Supreme Court trial?

4. What major points stem from revising the method of assigning attorneys who are not compensated?

5. How do Fortas and Jacob differ in their perceptions of Supreme Court procedure?

6. What is the impact of the Gideon ruling regarding getting support for attorneys who are appointed to criminal cases?

7. What embarrassing statement does Jacob make in dialogue regarding Gideon representing someone else in court?

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

9. What is Justice Harlan's simple statement that overturns Betts vs. Brady?

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

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in Gideon's life. How did Gideon have to adapt to a lonely childhood and youth? What effect did that have on his future relationships? Could his inability to manage relationships be part of the cause of his marital failures and relationships with his children? Explain the impact that childhood distress can have on an adult many years later.

Essay Topic 2

In Gideon's Supreme Court case, Abe Fortas is assigned to represent him while Bruce Jacob represents the state's rights. Compare and contrast Abe Fortas and Bruce Jacob. What similarities do they share? How are they different? Do you think the Supreme Court Justices knew what they were doing when they appointed Fortas to Gideon's case? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

What is the point of view of the book? What are the benefits and the limitations to this particular point of view? Explain how the book would have changed if it had been written by one of the attorneys or even Gideon himself.

(see the answer keys)

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