Question

Which Amendment does the situation in the following scenario violate? When Rick showed up for his criminal trial he noticed the jury box was empty. When he said "Hey! Where is the jury?" the bailiff told him that he didn't need a jury because the judge was smart and capable enough to decide Rick's guilt or innocence on his own. a) First Amendment b) Sixth Amendment c) Tenth Amendment d) Fourteenth Amendment

Answer 1

The scenario violates the Sixth Amendment, which protects an accused person's right to a trial by an impartial jury, among other rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The situation described violates the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Sixth Amendment ensures the right of an accused person in a criminal prosecution to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to obtain witnesses in his favor, and to be represented by counsel. Among these rights is the crucial guarantee that the accused has a right to a trial by an impartial jury, which is in violation in Rick's case.

This means that if Rick is on trial for a crime, he has the right to have his case heard and decided by a jury of his peers, not just a single judge. If this right is breached, as in the scenario presented, it is a violation of the constitution. The response from the bailiff, suggesting that the judge alone is adequate to determine Rick's guilt or innocence, directly contradicts the right to a jury trial protected under the Sixth Amendment.

Learn more about Sixth Amendment