How does the book Monster by Walter Dean Myers relate to the Constitution or to specific amendments?

Throughout the novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon, the novel's protagonist, is on trial for the robbery and murder of Aguinaldo Nesbitt. Since the majority of the novel describes Steve's trial, it was important for Myers to depict the American justice system accurately.There are numerous provisions and rights granted to individuals that are written in the United States Constitution in regards to legal proceedings. Throughout a trial, the Constitution guarantees a fair...

Throughout the novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Steve Harmon, the novel's protagonist, is on trial for the robbery and murder of Aguinaldo Nesbitt. Since the majority of the novel describes Steve's trial, it was important for Myers to depict the American justice system accurately. There are numerous provisions and rights granted to individuals that are written in the United States Constitution in regards to legal proceedings. Throughout a trial, the Constitution guarantees a fair process in all hearings and equal treatment under the law. The Constitution requires a speedy trial by an impartial jury, provides the accused with a lawyer, and allows them to call witnesses to the stand on their behalf. In the novel, Kathy O'Brien is Steve's lawyer, and Mr. Sawicki testifies to Steve's character during the trial. One of the Constitution's most important amendments states that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. At the beginning of the trial, O'Brien takes the podium and says,

"As Mr. Harmon's attorney all I ask of you, the jury, is that you look at Steve Harmon now and remember that at this moment the American system of justice demands that you consider him innocent. He is innocent until proven guilty. If you consider him innocent now, and by law you must, if you have not prejudged him, then I don't believe we will have a problem convincing you that nothing the State will produce will challenge that innocence" (Myers 31).

As the novel progresses, Steve's attorney represents him well, and the jury finds Steve Harmon not guilty. Steve was granted all of his individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and an impartial jury judged Steve fairly.