What is Gault?
In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967), was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that ensured the right to a lawyer for children accused of crimes in juvenile court. The ruling also provided other due process rights, including the right to be notified of the charges, the right to cross-examine witnesses, and the right to not have to make a statement against oneself.
Countdown to 50
The In re Gault decision came down on May 15, 1967. In May of 2016 we launched a public awareness campaign leading up to the decision’s 50th anniversary in 2017 to ensure the promise of Gault is a reality for all children.