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 Maryland, as in all states, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the rights of individuals accused of crimes. This includes the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury in the state and district where the crime was committed. Maryland law conforms to this requirement by ensuring that criminal trials are conducted without undue delay and that defendants are tried by a jury of their peers from the relevant jurisdiction. The state's legal system also upholds the right of the accused to be informed of the charges against them, to confront and cross-examine witnesses, to subpoena witnesses in their defense, and to have the assistance of an attorney. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, the state provides one through the public defender's office. These rights are enshrined in both federal law and Maryland's state statutes, and they are fundamental to the state's criminal justice proceedings.