Avery v. Alabama

Petitioner was convicted of murder in the Circuit Court of Bibb County, Alabama; he was sentenced to death and the State Supreme Court affirmed. The sole question presented is whether in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment “petitioner was denied the right of counsel, with the accustomed incidents of consultation • and opportunity of preparation for trial,” because, after competent counsel were duly appointed their motion for continuance was denied. Vigilant concern for the maintenance of the constitutional right of an accused to assistance of counsel led us to grant certiorari.

Had…