The right to a speedy trial is embodied in the ________ Amendment.

• A. 5th Amendment
• B. 6th Amendment
• C. 4th Amendment
• D. 8th Amendment

Answer: (B)

The right to a speedy trial is protected by the Sixth Amendment. This part of the Constitution specifically guards the rights of people facing criminal charges, including having a speedy, public trial, an impartial jury, notice of the charges, and the ability to confront witnesses and obtain witnesses in their own defense, with the help of counsel. The idea behind a speedy trial is to prevent unnecessary delays that could harm the defense, keep evidence fresh, and ensure a timely resolution of the case. The other amendments cover different protections—The Fourth Amendment deals with searches and seizures, the Fifth with due process and protecting against self-incrimination, and the Eighth with cruel or unusual punishment and related limits. So the speedy-trial guarantee belongs to the Sixth Amendment.