The Sixth 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 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 guaranteed eight things 1. a speedy and public trial.  2. the trials must take place in public, the accused must be informed of case and the nature of the accusation. 3. witnesses for prosecution must testify in public.4. the defendant can produce witnesses on his/her behalf. 5. the defendant has the right to secure council. 6. jury of your own peers (not within county or city) 7. juries are to be unbiased. 8. the speedy trials must take place within a reasonable amount of time of indictment. The reason for public trials stemmed from not having any secrecy and that they though that people wouldn't lie with taking an oath over the bible and in front of a judge.  This amendment is important because it states the rights given to all people, even criminals.  It makes the laws more equal and fair for everyone.  

This image shows that even though it is a guarantee to a speedy trial, that it is not always what the defendant wants. It is also important to them to be able to defend themselves.  

This image shows the importance of having the criminal trials public because you wouldn't want the judge or the prosecutor the only ones allowed because the could influence or coerce a person to say things that they didn't want or that they don't believe.