Changes

On appeal to the Supreme Court the civil rights lawyers argued that defendants (1) had been denied the right to counsel; (2) had not been given a fair and impartial trial; and (3) had been tried before juries from which blacks were systematically excluded. They argued that these allegations constituted a denial of due process of law and equal protection of the laws under the 14th Amendment.  

On appeal to the Supreme Court the civil rights lawyers argued that defendants (1) had been denied the right to counsel; (2) had not been given a fair and impartial trial; and (3) had been tried before juries from which blacks were systematically excluded. They argued that these allegations constituted a denial of due process of law and equal protection of the laws under the 14th Amendment.  

Speaking for a majority of seven in ''Powell v. Alabama'' (1932), Justice George Sutherland declared that the Alabama trial court had failed to give the defendants reasonable time to secure counsel, which was a denial of due process.  

Speaking for a majority of seven in ''[[Powell v. Alabama]]'' (1932), Justice George Sutherland declared that the Alabama trial court had failed to give the defendants reasonable time to secure counsel, which was a denial of due process.  

The Supreme Court ordered new trials. Along the way the case again went to the Supreme Court which in ''Norris v. Alabama'' (1935), overturned convictions and ordered new trials because the state excluded African Americans from juries. The final result was lengthy prison sentences for four of the defendants; the dismissal of rape charges for five, a prison term for unrelated charges for one, and the release of four after they had languished in jail for six years.  The last defendant was released from prison in 1950.  Finally in 1976 Alabama Governor [[George Wallace]] pardoned all the defendants.

The Supreme Court ordered new trials. Along the way the case again went to the Supreme Court which in ''Norris v. Alabama'' (1935), overturned convictions and ordered new trials because the state excluded African Americans from juries. The final result was lengthy prison sentences for four of the defendants; the dismissal of rape charges for five, a prison term for unrelated charges for one, and the release of four after they had languished in jail for six years.  The last defendant was released from prison in 1950.  Finally in 1976 Alabama Governor [[George Wallace]] pardoned all the defendants.