The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that a person accused of a crime has the right to a speedy and public trial, 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 Hawaii, as in all states, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. This means that in Hawaii, anyone charged with a crime has the right to have their case heard without unnecessary delay, and the trial must be open to the public. The jury must be composed of impartial members from the state and the specific district where the crime occurred. The district is determined according to Hawaii's laws and the judicial system's structure. Additionally, the accused must be informed of the charges and evidence against them, be able to confront and cross-examine witnesses, have the means to compel witnesses to testify on their behalf, and have access to an attorney for their defense. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided by the state. Hawaii's state statutes and court rules provide further details on the implementation of these rights, ensuring that the constitutional protections of the Sixth Amendment are upheld in the state's criminal justice system.