Bill+of+Rights+phaiha19

= The VI Amendment = 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.

Description
The sixth amendment states that every American has a right to a fair trial no matter the crime. In the trial there must be a fair jury, witnesses to question against them, witnesses to question in favor of them, and to have access to an attorney.

History
The Sixth Amendment was created because our founders were treated unequally by the British and the king so they needed to make it so everyone has the right to a fair and speedy trial. They wanted something in The Bill of Rights that says Americans have the right to a fair trial no matter the crime because they saw what England did and didn't want it to be like that here.

Today's Application
This amendment is stilled applied today by everyone who has committed a crime gets a speedy fair trial with an impartial jury. But there was a time where someone didn't get a fair trial. In 1961 Clarence Earl Gideon was arrested in Florida for a felony for breaking and entering. When Mr. Gideon appeared in court he asked the judge to appoint counsel for him, because he didn't have the money to hire an attorney of his own. But the judge told him that the only time the judge can make such an appointment is when the defendant is charged with a capital offense. Mr. Gideon was only charged with a felony offense so he had no right to appoint counsel, so he was forced to conduct his own defense. He did as best as he could in his trial. He made an opening statement, cross-examined witnesses, and presented witnesses of his own. But the jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to five years in prison. Mr. Gideon appealed his case to the U.S Supreme Court on the grounds that the state of Florida had denied him his Sixth Amendment right to the Assistance of counsel. The Supreme Court decided to review Mr. Gideon's appeal, and appointed an attorney to present his side of the argument before the court.



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