The Sixth Amendment is one of the most important amendments in the constitution. It is surprising that most people do not know all of the rights which are provided by the Sixth Amendment. At best most people know that the Sixth Amendment provides the right to an attorney. However, it is the Sixth Amendment which provides us with the right to a jury trial, public trial, confront witnesses against us in a criminal case, compel witnesses to come and testify, and others.
The trial is one of the most important aspects in the criminal justice process. The trial sets in motion the determination of whether a person will be found innocent or guilty of the charges against them. Up until the trial, a person can always maintain their innocence because there has been no determination of guilt. A question was raised what if we had the kind of trial process which was used by ancient kings and queens? How would a system like that work today? Would it be effective and efficient? These are all questions that come to mind when people compare our criminal justice system to past systems.
In this last discussion, develop an argument against the continued use of our current trial system. As you develop your argument read and consider the points your classmates make in their discussion. It will be interesting to read the points of view. Then read the article below which addresses hearsay evidence used in trials. Consider the impact of this type of evidence as you develop your analysis.