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 South Carolina, as in all states, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees criminal defendants certain fundamental rights. These rights include the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury in the state and district where the crime was committed. The state of South Carolina ensures that the district is determined according to its laws. Defendants must be informed of the charges and evidence against them, which allows them to prepare an adequate defense. They also have the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses who testify against them. Furthermore, defendants in South Carolina have the right to subpoena witnesses in their favor through the compulsory process and to have the assistance of an attorney for their defense. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided at the state's expense. These rights are enshrined in both the federal constitution and the South Carolina state statutes, ensuring that defendants receive a fair trial.