"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 is familiar to many Americans as comprising a large part of Miranda, the advisory of rights to criminal suspects by arresting law enforcement officers. The amendment was crafted by the founders as insurance of sorts. They wished to provide that no one be punished for a crime without presentation of evidence sufficient to convince a group of unrelated people that he or she is, indeed, guilty. In this way, it was hoped that such motivators for accusation as jealously or revenge would be curbed. In large part, the founders were successful.