trial in absentia

     A trial "in absentia" means conducting a trial when the defendant is not present. Some other countries do this, but not the United States. In the United States this would be unconstitutional, because every defendant has the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him or her. This means he or she must be present at the trial. It means any evidence against him or her is made public at the trial. No one can be convicted "in absentia" in the United States. This should be argued in the United Nations, with the goal that it become a worldwide standard.