The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that a person accused of a crime has the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him (the confrontation clause), 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 Georgia, as in all states, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees criminal defendants certain rights to ensure a fair trial. 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 right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusations against them, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, the right to subpoena witnesses in their favor, and the right to have the assistance of an attorney for their defense. Georgia's legal system is structured to uphold these constitutional protections and has state statutes and procedural rules in place to ensure that defendants receive these rights. For instance, Georgia has rules regarding the selection and conduct of juries (O.C.G.A. Title 15, Chapter 12), procedures for ensuring a defendant is informed of the charges (O.C.G.A. Title 17), and provisions for the defendant's right to counsel (O.C.G.A. Title 17, Chapter 12). If a defendant's Sixth Amendment rights are violated, the consequences can include the reversal of a conviction or a new trial.