October Term 2001 · Docket 00-1214
Can a state jail a defendant without a lawyer if they pay fines?
Alabama argues it can imprison a defendant without a lawyer if they pay fines. The defendant argues this violates the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Pryor argued the state relies on prior Supreme Court precedent.
Mills argued the state takes a shallow view of the law.
Duke argued this is a serious criminal prosecution.
Fried argued deferred prosecution is a red herring.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 5-31 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 5-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 17-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a state can impose jail time without providing a lawyer. The defendant argues this practice violates the Sixth Amendment. The state argues it can use fines as a substitute for counsel.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 5-31 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 5-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 19, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
Alabama wants to keep the conviction and jail time.
Shelton wants the conviction overturned and the jail time removed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 5-31 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 5-31
What each side says
Alabama argues the Sixth Amendment does not require a lawyer if the defendant pays fines.
Shelton argues the Sixth Amendment requires a lawyer for any criminal prosecution that risks jail.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 5-31 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 5-31
What the justices asked
Does the Sixth Amendment require a lawyer for a misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence?
Can a state use a fine as a substitute for providing a lawyer?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 17-21
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of the right to counsel. It determines when states must provide lawyers for criminal defendants. It affects how courts handle misdemeanor prosecutions nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 5-31 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 5-31
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 17-21
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 5-31 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 5-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 5-31 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 5-31
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.