Question

Rob, an accused in a robbery case, is unable to afford a lawyer to represent him in a state trial court. Geller, an attorney who is chosen from a pool of practicing criminal lawyers within the court's jurisdiction, is appointed by the court to represent Rob. In this scenario, Geller is a(n) (blank).

Answer 1

Geller is a public defender, appointed in accordance with the constitutional right established by the Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), which ensures that defendants in felony cases have the right to state-provided legal representation if they cannot afford one.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario described, Geller, the attorney appointed by the court to represent Rob, an accused who cannot afford legal representation, is known as a public defender. This appointment is in line with the constitutional right established by the Supreme Court's decision in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), which requires states to provide an attorney at the state's expense to defendants accused of felonies if they are unable to afford one themselves.

This landmark case significantly transformed the criminal justice system by ensuring that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel is upheld for all individuals facing serious criminal charges, regardless of their financial status.