Sixth Amendment Main article: Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.[69] The Sixth Amendment establishes a number of rights of the defendant in a criminal trial: The right to a speedy and public trial The right to trial by an impartial jury The right to be informed of criminal charges The right to confront witnesses The right to compel witnesses to appear in court The right to assistance of counsel[85] In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the Court ruled that the amendment guaranteed the right to legal representation in all felony prosecutions in both state and federal courts.[85]
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 11:08:44 +0000