Page "Scott v. Illinois" Paragraph 2

A plurality held that Illinois had not violated the Constitution.

Writing for four of the justices, Rehnquist clarified the Court's holding in Argersinger v. Hamlin ( 1972 ) and argued that states could sentence a convicted criminal to imprisonment only if that person had been represented by counsel.

Since Scott was not sentenced to imprisonment, even though the applicable statute allowed for it, the state was not obligated to provide counsel.

Rehnquist called that line of reasoning " the central premise of Argersinger.