Sixth Amendment - U.S. Constitution

Sixth Amendment - Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions

Amendment Text | Annotations

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.

6th Amendment Annotations

• Criminal Prosecutions  
• Coverage  
  • Offenses Against the United States  
• Right to a Speedy and Public Trial  
• Speedy Trial  
  • Source and Rationale  
  • Application and Scope  
  • When the Right Is Denied  
• Public Trial  
• Right to Trial by Impartial Jury  
• Jury Trial  
  • The Attributes and Function of the Jury  
  • Criminal Proceedings to Which the Guarantee Applies  
• Impartial Jury  
• Place of Trial--Jury of the Vicinage  
• Notice of Accusation  
• Confrontation  
• Compulsory Process  
• Assistance of Counsel  
• Development of an Absolute Right to Counsel at Trial  
  • Powell v. Alabama  
  • Johnson v. Zerbst  
  • Betts v. Brady and Progeny  
  • Gideon v. Wainwright  
  • Protection of the Right to Retained Counsel  
  • Effective Assistance of Counsel  
  • Self-Representation  
• Right to Assistance of Counsel in Nontrial Situations  
  • Judicial Proceedings Before Trial  
  • Custodial Interrogation  
  • Lineups and Other Identification Situations  
  • Post-Conviction Proceedings  
  • Noncriminal and Investigatory Proceedings