Griffin v. Illinois

351 U.S. 12 (1956)

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Griffin v. Illinois

United States Supreme Court
351 U.S. 12 (1956)

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Facts

Griffin (defendant) was convicted of armed robbery in the state courts of Illinois (defendant). Griffin wanted to appeal his conviction and petitioned the trial court on grounds of indigence for a free copy of the trial court record. Illinois law limited the provision of free transcripts to individuals sentenced to death and defendants raising constitutional issues. The trial court denied Griffin’s motion for free transcripts. Griffin filed a second petition alleging that the denial of transcripts violated the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court dismissed Griffin’s second petition and the state supreme court upheld the dismissal. Griffin petitioned the United States Supreme Court for review.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Black, J.)

Concurrence (Frankfurter, J.)

Dissent (Harlan, J.)

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