The University of St. Thomas community is invited to celebrate Constitution Day by attending a showing of the 1980 classic movie “Gideon’s Trumpet.” The film will be shown at at 4 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 17, in Room 321, School of Law, Minneapolis campus.
The film stars Henry Fonda in the role of Clarence Gideon and recounts his historic effort to obtain legal counsel for his criminal defense, at the expense of the state. Also starring is Jose Ferrer as Justice Abe Fortas and John Houseman (who later played Kingsfield in “Paper Chase”).
In Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state courts are required by the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution to provide counsel for criminal defendants unable to afford their own attorneys. “Gideon’s Trumpet” tells the story.
