Why is Gideon v. Wainright such an important case? Group of answer choices SCOTUS authorized the use of contingency fee contracts in civil cases, but not criminal cases. SCOTUS held that indigent defendants are entitled to a public defender in all cases, not just death penatly cases. SCOTUS held that a defendant is entitled to the assistance of an attorney during custodial interrogations. SCOTUS held that all plaintiffs are entitled to the assistance of an attorney, even in minor civil cases