Panama City in Bay County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Gideon Versus Wainwright Case
Photographed By Paul F, April 27, 2011
1. The Gideon Versus Wainwright Case Marker
West side of two-sided marker.
Inscription.
The Gideon Versus Wainwright Case. . This is the site of the landmark Gideon case, after which the Public Defender system was established in Florida and throughout the nation. In 1961, Clarence Earl Gideon (1910-1972) stood trial in this courthouse for the felony of burglary. Lacking funds to hire a lawyer, Gideon requested that a lawyer be appointed to represent him at trial. Gideon’s request was denied, because at that time, a person accused of a non-capital felony did not have a constitutional right to a free lawyer. Gideon represented himself at his trial and was convicted. While serving his five-year prison sentence, Gideon petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review his case. The Supreme Court issued its decision in 1963 in Gideon v. Wainwright, ruling that every poor person charged with a serious crime in this country must be provided a lawyer for his defense at public expense. Panama City attorney, W. Fred Turner (b. 1922) represented Gideon at his retrial and won an acquittal. Built in 1914, this building is one of only a few original courthouses in Florida still being used for its original purpose. A fire in 1920 gutted the building, but it was immediately rebuilt in its Classic Revival architectural style.
This is the site of the landmark Gideon case, after which the Public Defender system was established in Florida and throughout the nation. In 1961, Clarence Earl Gideon (1910-1972) stood trial in this courthouse for the felony of burglary. Lacking funds to hire a lawyer, Gideon requested that a lawyer be appointed to represent him at trial. Gideon’s request was denied, because at that time, a person accused of a non-capital felony did not have a constitutional right to a free lawyer. Gideon represented himself at his trial and was convicted. While serving his five-year prison sentence, Gideon petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review his case. The Supreme Court issued its decision in 1963 in Gideon v. Wainwright, ruling that every poor person charged with a serious crime in this country must be provided a lawyer for his defense at public expense. Panama City attorney, W. Fred Turner (b. 1922) represented Gideon at his retrial and won an acquittal. Built in 1914, this building is one of only a few original courthouses in Florida still being used for its original purpose. A fire in 1920 gutted the building, but it was immediately rebuilt in its Classic Revival architectural style.
Erected 2003 by The Historical Society of Bay County and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number
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F-479.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1961.
Location. 30° 9.289′ N, 85° 39.466′ W. Marker is in Panama City, Florida, in Bay County. Marker is on McKenzie Avenue, 0.1 miles south of East 4th Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 E 4th St, Panama City FL 32401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
From across the street. Marker is behind the silver car.
Photographed By Paul F, April 27, 2011
4. Bay County Courthouse
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2014
5. Bay County Courthouse (detail)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2014
6. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Located on south side of courthouse
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2017. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,365 times since then and 114 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 2, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. 5, 6. submitted on March 7, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
