The right to an attorney for an accused person is guaranteed by which amendment?

• A. Sixth Amendment
• B. Fifth Amendment
• C. First Amendment
• D. Eighth Amendment

Answer: (A)

The right to an attorney in criminal cases is protected by the Sixth Amendment. This amendment guarantees the accused the assistance of counsel to help ensure a fair trial—so they can understand the charges, confront witnesses, and present a defense. The special point about needing a lawyer for those who can’t afford one comes from Gideon v. Wainwright, which extended the right to counsel to all defendants in state courts. The other amendments cover different protections: the Fifth deals with due process and self-incrimination, the First with freedoms like speech and religion, and the Eighth with cruel or unusual punishment—none of these specifically guarantee the right to counsel in the way the Sixth does.