1. JOURNAL • How do we know that trials in a court of law are fair?? How do we know that they are not corrupt or that they favor one person over another?

2. 5th and 6th Amendments Ensuring Fair Trials

3. Standards & Objectives • 1.5: Students know the fundamental democratic principles that are a part of our government • Content: Identify protections of the 5th and 6th Amendments • Language: Practice reading comprehension skills by analyzing a Supreme Court decision (in re Gault) • Essential Question: How does the constitution balance individual rights/freedoms with the common good?

4. The case of John Abraham

5. What’s your response? • Does what happened to John seem fair? Why? • If you were John, what would you want to happen? • If you think it’s unfair, where does the sense of unfairness come from? Do you know of a rule or law that protects someone like John?

6. FIFTH AMENDMENT • “No person … shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself. “ • ….What does this mean, in common language?

7. I plead the fifth… and the sixth, and seventh, too, if it will help!

8. SIXTH AMENDMENT • “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, … and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”

9. Lets Break It Down • 5th • No self-incrimination: “I plead the fifth!” • 6th • Speedy, public trial • Know what you’re charged with • Know who witnesses against you are, and get your own witnesses • Right to an attorney