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 Illinois, as in all states, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees criminal defendants the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. This means that in Illinois, anyone charged with a crime has the right to have their case heard without undue delay, and the trial must be open to the public except in rare circumstances where the court determines that an open trial would compromise the defendant's rights or other critical interests. The jury must be composed of impartial members from the state and district where the crime occurred, which is defined by law. Defendants must be informed of the charges against them, face the witnesses who testify against them, and have the opportunity to present their own witnesses. Additionally, they have the right to the assistance of an attorney. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, the state is required to provide one. Illinois state statutes and court rules provide further details on how these rights are protected and implemented in the state's legal system.