The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that a person accused of a crime has the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, and states 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 defense.”
In New Hampshire, as in all states, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against them. This means that anyone charged with a crime must be given a clear and detailed statement of the charges to prepare their defense. Additionally, defendants in New Hampshire have the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury from the area where the crime occurred. The state's legal system ensures that the jury is selected from a pool that represents a cross-section of the community, and the location of the trial is set according to established legal boundaries. Defendants also have the right to confront and cross-examine all witnesses testifying against them, to subpoena witnesses in their favor, and to have the assistance of an attorney. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to them at no cost. These rights are upheld in New Hampshire's courts and are fundamental to the state's criminal justice proceedings.