Griffin v. Illinois
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 351 U.S. 12 (1956)
What did the court decide?
The Court held that a state that grants appellate review cannot deny it to a defendant just because the defendant cannot afford a trial transcript. The lead opinion said, "There can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has."
Why does it matter?
This is the starting point for the rule that people who cannot pay must get adequate access to transcripts needed for an appeal. Later cases built on it.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
Related rulings
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.