The Bill of Rights - The Speedy Trial

As you've probably seen on television and theon trial. In some countries, they might wait up to ten
movies, you have the right to a speedy trial as anyears before getting their day in court. In a vast
American citizen. So, what exactly exactly is thismajority of these cases, the defendants are in jail
speedy trial stuff about?because they object to actions being taken by the
As citizens of the United States, you have certaingovernment.
inalienable rights. These include things such as theThe constitutional right to a speedy trial keeps the
right to the freedom of speech, the right to bearU.S. government from putting citizens in jail for a
arms and other civil liberties. The pillars of these rightsprolonged period. Following 9-11, the Bush
are found in the Constitution. The sixth amendmentadministration has been roundly criticized for violating
of the constitution provides us with the right to athis notion via the Guantanamo Bay facility where
speedy and public trial.prisoners have been held without any trials for years.
So, who cares if you have the right to a speedyThe US Supreme Court has rejected the position of
trial? What's the big rush? Well, we have to look atthe Bush Administration and trials have begun.
other countries to get a better idea. ManySo, how long can you sit in jail before the right to a
authoritative regimes have touted themselves asspeedy trial becomes an issue? It depends on the
democratic in nature. To one extent or another, theysituation, but six months is generally a cut off period.
hold up the fact that they guarantee a right to trialMurder cases can be much longer. Ironically, most
to their citizens.defendants do not invoke the right to a speedy trial
The problem, however, is in the details. They don'tas they want their attorneys to have time to mount
offer a speedy trial. Instead, they arrest citizens anda defence. In such cases, a defendant can waive his
then let them sit in jail for years while waiting to goor her right to the speedy trial.