---
title: U.S. Const. Amend. VI. Rights of the Accused in Criminal Prosecutions
collection: code
id: us-const:amend-vi
cite_as: U.S. Const. Amend. VI
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date: 2025
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---

# U.S. Const. Amend. VI. Rights of the Accused in Criminal Prosecutions

A constitution provision shown as in force is in force as printed in the volume. A court decision can make a printed provision unenforceable without changing the volume, and the volume does not record that.

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.

## Cross References

Rights under amendment generally, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, Paras. XI, XIV.

Criminal trial venue, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. VI, Sec. II, Paras. VI, VIII, §§ 17-2-2, 17-7-150 et seq.

Juries generally, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, Para. XI and § 15-12-101 et seq.

Assistance of counsel, §§ 15-11-103, 17-7-24, and 17-12-23.

Pretrial procedures in general, § 17-7-110 et seq.

Speedy trial, §§ 17-7-170, 17-7-171, 17-7-172, 17-8-33, 38-2-1062, 38-3-62, 42-3-71.

Conduct and argument of counsel, § 17-8-50 et seq.

Public Defender Council, § 17-12-1 et seq.

Securing attendance of witnesses and production and preservation of evidence, § 24-13-1 et seq.

Compulsory process, § 24-13-20 et seq.

Procedure for compelling an out-of-state witness to attend criminal or grand jury proceedings, § 24-13-94.

Speedy trial, §§ 17-7-170, 38-2-1062, 38-3-62, 42-3-71, 17-8-33, 38-2-1062, 38-3-62, 42-3-71.

Suspension or tolling of deadlines and time schedules in event of judicial emergency, § 38-3-62.

## Editor's Notes

The United States Supreme Court has declared that the due process clause of U.S. Const., amend. 14 protects the rights specified in U.S. Const., amend. 6 in state, as well as federal, criminal proceedings. See Klopfer v. North Carolina, 386 U.S. 213, 87 S. Ct. 988, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1967) (speedy trial); In re Oliver, 333 U.S. 257, 68 S. Ct. 499, 92 L. Ed. 682 (1948) (public trial); Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333, 86 S. Ct. 1507, 16 L. Ed. 2d 600 (1966) (impartial jury); United States v. Cohen Grocery Co., 255 U.S. 81, 41 S. Ct. 298, 65 L. Ed. 516, 14 A.L.R. 1045 (1921) (notice of charges); Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145, 88 S. Ct. 1444, 20 L. Ed. 2d 491 (1968) (jury trial); Pointer v. Texas, 380 U.S. 400, 85 S. Ct. 1065, 13 L. Ed. 2d 923 (1965) (confrontation of accusers); Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14, 87 S. Ct. 1920, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1019 (1967) (compulsory process); and Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S. Ct. 792, 9 L. Ed. 2d 799 (1963), and Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25, 92 S. Ct. 2006, 32 L. Ed. 2d 530 (1972) (assistance of counsel).


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