The Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees certain rights for the accused in criminal prosecutions in federal courts. The Supreme Court has held that these rights of the Sixth Amendment, being fundamental and basic to the polity, are also safeguarded in the state proceedings by virtue of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
The rights given by the Sixth Amendment are enumerated below.
In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the state and district where the crime is alleged to have been committed. This is to ensure transparency and natural justice. The accused has also the right to be informed of the charges against him so that he can meet the allegations in defense. The defense has also the right to confront and cross-examine the prosecution witnesses. Moreover, the accused has the right to compulsory process or subpoena for enforcing the attendance of witness in his favor to depose. The accused has also the right to assistance of a counsel for his defense.
