Investigation Of Justice State V. Hickock And Smith

Katie Dyer Professor Vanderwall English 1120 30-September-2016 Investigation of Justice in State v. Hickock and Smith In compliance with the United States Constitution, â€Å"in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury† (U.S. Consitution. Art./Amend. XIII)†. The infamous trial in the state of Kansas, State v. Hickock and Smith, documented in the iconic true crime novel In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote details the events of the murder of four innocent people and the trial of their killers. Upon reading Capote’s depiction of the trial, readers are placed in the position of deciding if the rights of Richard Hickock and Perry Smith were violated during their trial, and whether or not justice served in the case of State v. Hickock and Smith. The constitutional rights guaranteed to Perry Smith and Richard Hickock under the fifth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution were violated during their trial. Due process states that Smith and Hickock had the right to a fair and just trial, however, the presiding judge, members of the jury, and the defense failed to uphold and execute their roles in a professional and unbiased manner. â€Å"These were grave assertions, reflecting upon the integrity of two respected lawyers and a distinguished district judge, but if even partially true, then the constitutional rights of the defendants had been abused (Capote 326)†. â€Å"Shultz had a score of charges, but underlying them all was