due process of law

The principle that an individual cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards. The Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution guarantee that any person accused of a crime must be informed of the charges, be provided with legal counsel, be given a speedy and public trial, enjoy equal protection of the laws , and not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment , unreasonable searches and seizures, double jeopardy , or self-incrimination .