Amendment VI

Amendment VI

"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 defense."

The Sixth Amendment insures citizens’ rights to lawful criminal procedures. It goes into detail about a suspect’s rights from the time they are accused of a crime and once the trial has begun. This amendment further brings criminal prosecution into the public-sphere. It prevents law enforcement from extending trial time or delaying trial time as a means of keeping a suspect imprisoned. They are required to work as quickly as possible to bring justice to society. Right to a trial by jury in the district where the crime was committed is important because it is the area in which the crime was committed which is the most affected. It seems fair the trial would be in that district. This amendment also prevents suspects from prosecution without knowing what charges are being brought against them, what witnesses will testify against them; and prosecution without gaining appropriate counsel for defense and witnesses.

This is a video clip taken from Fox News on Drew Peterson and how he waived his right to a speedy trial because his defense attorney’s needed more time to prepare their case. This is an example of how a right could possibly work against you. The defense also requested that the trial be moved to a location outside of the county because there had been so much media attention in regards to the crime. This is often a reason for a request to move the location of the trial. This video also reveals that the prosecution wants to use testimonies from Peterson’s dead ex-wife and, at that time, his missing wife. This, his defense affirms, would be a direct violation Peterson being “confronted with the witnesses against him…” because prosecution cannot confront Peterson with a witness that is dead or missing. In this case the testimony would be “hearsay.”

This is a comical enactment of the Sixth Amendment by some children, which I thought described some aspects of the Sixth Amendment. The “officer” actually violates amendments 4 and 5 by unlawfully searching the house without a warrant and not informing the suspect of the nature and cause of the accusation!