The Sixth Amendment

Amendments · Ratified 1791

In short: Guarantees the rights of the accused: a speedy public trial, an impartial jury, and a lawyer.

The Full Text

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.

— The Sixth Amendment, ratified 1791

The Sixth Amendment is the rulebook for a fair criminal trial. It promises that if the government accuses you of a crime, the process cannot be secret, slow, or stacked against you. You’re entitled to a speedy and public trial, decided by an impartial jury from the community where the crime allegedly happened.

It also guarantees the tools to defend yourself: the right to know exactly what you’re charged with, to confront and cross-examine the witnesses testifying against you, and to use the court’s power to compel your own witnesses to appear.

The most consequential guarantee is the right to counsel. Thanks to Gideon v. Wainwright, that right isn’t just for people who can afford a lawyer — if you cannot, the court must appoint one. Combined with the Fifth Amendment’s right to silence, this is why “I want a lawyer” is one of the most important sentences you can say after an arrest.

Key Points

  • The right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury.
  • The right to be told the charges and to confront (cross-examine) the witnesses against you.
  • The right to a lawyer — and if you cannot afford one, the court must appoint one for you.

Leading Cases

  • Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) — States must provide a lawyer to criminal defendants who cannot afford one.
  • Strickland v. Washington (1984) — Set the standard for when a lawyer's performance is so deficient it violates the right to counsel.

Read the Official Source

Sixth Amendment (Constitution Annotated) →

Related Questions

Confused by the legal wording? The CivicShield app explains the law in everyday language for your exact situation.

Get AI-Powered Answers →