Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12 (1956)
Griffin v. Illinois is a pivotal Supreme Court decision that solidified the principle of equal access to justice within the American legal system.
Does a state requirement that a defendant must purchase a transcript to appeal a criminal conviction violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses when the defendant is indigent?
The Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment prevent states from denying indigent defendants access to adequate appellate review on account of their inability to afford a trial transcript or equivalent record.
Yes, the Supreme Court held that the Illinois statute violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as it imposed an unconstitutional barrier to appeal solely based on the defendant’s inability to pay for the trial transcript.
For law students, Griffin v. Illinois is a cornerstone in understanding how the judicial system addresses economic disparities and reinforces the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. This case underscores the judicial mandate that access to the courts must be equitable, regardless of an individual's financial situation. It has laid the groundwork for subsequent cases that continue to address disparities in legal proceedings, particularly for indigent defendants.