Question

Which of the following gives the defendant in a criminal case the right to "assistance of counsel" in his or her defense?
The Sixth Amendment
The Fifth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment
The Second Amendment

Answer 1

The Sixth Amendment

The sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution dealing with “Assistance of counsel clause” provides that in all criminal proceedings the accused should enjoy the right to have assistance of counsel for his defense.

Right to ‘assistance of counsel’ means that defendant has a constitutional right to be represented by an attorney during trial & if accused cannot afford a lawyer then government should appoint one or pay the accused’s legal expense. In United States federal justice system & all states have set procedures to appoint counsel for economically poor defendants.