Why did the need for public defenders increase following the Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright? There were too many prosecutors and not enough attorneys for cases at this time.

The accused began studying the law and learning to defend their rights.

Requests for legal defenders had been piling up and not addressed until this time.

Criminal defendants in felony cases were required to be provided counsel by the state if the defendant could not afford his or her own legal representation.