In the case of Townsend v. Burke, Warden (1947), the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of a prisoner who had been convicted without being properly informed about his rights or having legal representation. The court found that this violated the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause, which guarantees fair treatment through the normal judicial system. The defendant, Charles Townsend was sentenced to 30-60 years imprisonment for several crimes based on prior convictions and offenses he did not commit. He pleaded guilty without understanding his constitutional right to counsel and other protections under law during sentencing proceedings. His lack of education and unfamiliarity with criminal procedure led him to misunderstand his situation when pleading guilty; thus rendering an unfair trial proceeding against him by Pennsylvania courts.

In the case of Townsend v. Burke, there was no dissenting opinion recorded. The decision by the Supreme Court was unanimous in favor of Townsend, ruling that his sentencing had been unconstitutional due to a lack of effective counsel and because it was based on false assumptions about his criminal record.