In re Gault: Juvenile Rights

In 1964, Gerald Gault, a 15-year-old from Arizona, was accused of making an offensive phone call. Without legal representation or knowledge of his rights, he was sentenced to six years in a state industrial school. His parents appealed, and the case reached the US Supreme Court. The Court ruled that juveniles have the same 14th Amendment rights as adults, setting a precedent for juvenile justice reform.

What was Gerald Gault accused of in 1964?

• Skipping school

• Vandalizing property

• Making an offensive phone call

• Stealing a wallet

Why was Gault's family unaware of his legal rights during the trial?

• They were out of town

• They were not interested in the case

• They did not have a lawyer

• They were not informed by the authorities

What was the outcome of Gault's initial trial?

• He was given community service

• He was fined

• He was sentenced to six years at a state industrial school

• He was acquitted

Who represented Gault in the Supreme Court?

• His parents

• A local Arizona lawyer

• Norman Dorson

• The judge from the juvenile court

What constitutional amendments were argued to have been violated in Gault's case?

• 2nd and 10th Amendments

• 1st and 5th Amendments

• 6th and 14th Amendments

• 4th and 8th Amendments