Herman provides an analysis and reference guide for the rights that the Sixth Amendment guarantees in all criminal prosecutions. She provides a history of the generation of each right from ancient times through the present. The public trial chapters analyze the development of Supreme Court case law interpreting the Sixth Amendment right and the companion First Amendment right of public access to trials, and then discuss current issues in interpretation of the Sixth Amendment right, including the controversial issue of cameras in the courtroom and the current questions about open proceedings involving alleged terrorists. The speedy trial chapters trace the development of the ideal of prompt proceedings and the Supreme Court's laws in this area, including a critique of the major Supreme Court cases.

Discussion of recent case law highlights open issues regarding the scope of the Sixth Amendment rights and comments on the impact of speedy trial legislation introduced in the 1970s. Each section concludes with a bibliographical essay discussing the major books and law review articles written in each area and also included a table of cases cited.