The statement accurately describes the landmark Supreme Court case of Gideon v. Wainwright in 1963.
Summary of the case and its significance:
Clarence Earl Gideon was accused of breaking into a pool hall in Florida in 1961. Because he couldn't pay for a lawyer, Gideon asked the court to give him one for free. However, in Florida, only people accused of serious crimes like murder could get a free lawyer, not everyone else.
Gideon defended himself in court and was found guilty. He was then given a five-year prison sentence. He asked the Supreme Court to review his case because he said he didn't have a fair trial since he didn't have a lawyer to help him.