Powell vs. Alabama

The Scottsboro Boys

Untitled Slide

• Fight on a train between white men and black men
• White men thrown off train, call sherrif
• Black men accused of rape
• None of the "Scottsboro" boys were allowed to contact family
• Their attorney had no chance to contact them beforehand, all nine found guilty

Untitled Slide

• Convictions appealed to the State courts of Alabama
• Then to Supreme Court

Supreme Court Decision

• Redo the trial
• It was unfair
• The Scottsboro boys were not given fair counsel before the trial

The Impact

• The Supreme Court set a new precedent
• Counsel must be guaranteed to everyone facing a possible death sentence

Constitutional Relevance

• Fair trial rights were incorporated into State constitutions
• Guaranteed by the 6th Amendment
• Made applicable by the 14th Amendment

How fair was the trial?

By Adam + Jared