On March 10, 1949, Chandler was indicted on charges of housebreaking and larceny, which was punishable by a sentence of three to ten years. Chandler, who was indigent, initially chose to appear without counsel. At the trial, upon learning of the additional charge under Tennessee’s habitual criminal statute, he requested a continuance so that he could obtain counsel to defend against the more severe habitual criminal accusation, which carried a possible life sentence. The trial judge denied this request, and the trial proceeded without giving Chandler the opportunity to secure counsel.

Chandler’s trial lasted approximately 10 minutes, at the end of which he was found guilty of both charges against him. Chandler was given a life sentence, but after serving three years on his larceny conviction, he filed a petition for habeas corpus in a Tennessee court. Chandler’s petition argued that his conviction under Tennessee’s habitual criminal statute was unconstitutional because he had been denied the right to counsel. The Tennessee courts denied his habeas corpus petition, upholding the conviction by arguing that Chandler had effectively waived his right to counsel by not securing representation for his initial charges and that the habitual criminal charge did not constitute a separate offense but merely a penalty enhancement. The Supreme Court then granted certiorari.