Grand Jury
Definition
A jury, normally of twenty-three jurors, selected to examine the validity of an accusation before trial.
Deep Dive
A grand jury is a group of citizens, typically larger than a trial jury (often 16-23 members), impaneled to investigate potential criminal conduct and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against a suspect. Unlike a petit (trial) jury, which determines guilt or innocence, a grand jury's primary role is to assess probable cause—meaning if there is enough evidence to justify an indictment or formal accusation. Grand jury proceedings are generally secret, allowing for uninhibited testimony from witnesses, who may include the targets of the investigation, and preventing the targets from fleeing or tampering with evidence. The grand jury's findings can result in a "true bill" (an indictment) if they find probable cause, or a "no true bill" if they do not.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1A prosecutor presents evidence, including witness testimony and documents, to a grand jury to determine if there is probable cause to indict a prominent politician for public corruption
- 2A grand jury reviews evidence related to a major drug trafficking ring to decide if formal charges should be brought against the alleged leaders and members
- 3Following a high-profile police shooting, a grand jury is convened to determine if the officer's actions warrant criminal charges.