What is a "grand jury" anyway?

What is a Grand Jury, anyway?

            With the recent developments in the tragic stories of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York, the phrase “grand jury” has been used frequently, and misunderstood just as frequently, by many people.  So what is a “grand jury” anyway?

Is it the same as a regular “jury?”

            No!  A “jury” is impaneled to hear evidence at a trial.  Both the State and the Defense have a say in who sits on a jury.  At the trial, strict rules of evidence apply, both the State and the Defense are allowed to call witnesses, introduce tangible evidence (think: items related to the alleged crime) and make arguments.  The whole proceeding is open to the public, and is presided over by a judge.

So what is a grand jury?

            Grand juries are a vestige of the English system of government, and are intended to act as a check against the power of the executive (or the king) to bring a citizen to trial.  The role of the modern grand jury is to determine whether the State has probable cause to charge a person (or corporate entity) with a crime.  If the grand jury says “yes,” an indictment is issued, and formal criminal proceedings commence.  If the grand jury says “no,” there are no immediate criminal charges.

So how does a grand jury work?

            Grand juries function very differently than “regular juries.”  I will highlight the biggest differences:

• Grand juries hear multiple cases per day, and can be impaneled for several months (federal grand juries can sit for up to 18 months, while grand juries in Maryland can sit between 3-12 months).
• Grand jury proceedings are supposed to be secret.  Secrecy is intended to (1) reduce the risk that the defendant will flee; (2) reduce tampering with the grand jury; (3) permits witnesses to testify before the grand jury without fear; (4) encourages those with evidence to cooperate with prosecutors and police; and (5) exonerates those who are ultimately not indicted.  See, U.S. v. Proctor & Gamble, 356 U.S. 677 (1958).
• The prosecutor may present any evidence (including evidence that would be inadmissible at trial : hearsay, illegally obtained evidence, etc.).  The prosecutor may also express his/her own opinion and explain the law directly to the grand jurors.  The prosecutor may withhold exculpatory evidence (evidence that tends to show that the defendant is innocent) from the grand jury.
• The grand jury may conduct their own investigation – they are not limited to the evidence presented by the prosecutor.
• The defendant has no right to be present, or testify – but if the defendant does appear/testify, he/she has no right to counsel.
• The defendant has no right to cross-examine witnesses, or challenge evidence presented by the prosecutor.
• If the grand jury decides not to issue an indictment, the prosecutor may impanel a new grand jury and try again.

What happens when an indictment is issued?

            This issuance of an indictment marks the beginning of formal criminal proceedings.  The indictment will issue with a summons/warrant.  Once the defendant is served/arrested, the pre-trial process begins.

If you are involved with a grand jury, either as a witness or defendant, or have otherwise been charged with a crime, call Young & Valkenet immediately for a free consultation (410) 323-0900.