As someone who is facing allegations of a crime, it’s important that you understand and apply your rights. Everyone has certain rights granted to them by various amendments and the Constitution.
The Sixth Amendment is particularly important. Why? It guarantees you a right to a fair trial. This amendment is designed to protect you against having your rights violated by those who are currently in positions of authority.
What is the importance of the Sixth Amendment?
On the surface, the amendment is important because it grants every person accused of a crime a right to an attorney. This, on paper, guarantees the right to a fair trial. The problem with the Sixth Amendment is that it is protective but doesn’t always go far enough.
For some, they have a right to a legal defense, but they can only afford a defense such as a public defender. This person may be inexperienced or poorly trained, which is particularly harmful in cases where the accused face long prison sentences, heavy fines or even the death sentence.
Did you know that there are a large number of death sentences that end up reversed because of inadequate legal representation? That’s right, and it’s something that no one should have to be worried about. Individuals should always have a right to a legal defense that is not only adequate but also educated in the person’s case and rights.
The Sixth Amendment also guarantees a speedy and public trial. Why is this important? Nothing could be worse than waiting years in jail for a trial during which you’re found innocent. Similarly, you don’t want a trial behind closed doors, because without the public watching, there’s no telling what could happen. Overall, a public trial keeps the judicial system honest.
Additionally, if you do go to trial, you’ll be tried by a jury of peers who are interviewed and determined not to have a bias one way or another in your case. Your attorney has the opportunity to have certain jurors removed if there is a concern of bias as well.
Finally, the amendment makes sure you’re innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. The burden is on the prosecution to prove its case, so if there is truly nothing to prove that you committed a crime, you may not need to do much to protect yourself. The lack of evidence will prove what needs to be shown in court.
