Scott v. Illinois

440 U.S. 367 (1979)

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Scott v. Illinois

United States Supreme Court
440 U.S. 367 (1979)

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Facts

Scott (defendant) was convicted of shoplifting in a bench trial and was fined $50. The maximum penalty for such an offense is a $500 fine or one year in jail, or both. Over Scott’s objection that the state was required to provide counsel for him, the intermediate appellate court and the state supreme court affirmed the conviction. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Rehnquist, J.)

Concurrence (Powell, J.)

Dissent (Brennan, J.)

Dissent (Blackmun, J.)

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