Grand Juries: A Closer Look
How They Are Chosen
Grand juries are chosen for both federal and state jurisdictions. A new federal grand jury is chosen three times each year, each serving a four-month term. Under federal law, a grand jury must be randomly selected from a fair cross section of the community in the location where the grand jury will sit.
State grand jury selection procedures vary, but all states require that grand jurors be randomly selected from a list of registered voters and meet certain qualifications, such as being of sound mind and body, and having no felony convictions.
Their Work
The work of a grand jury is required by law to be done in secret. So the public has no right to know who is subpoenaed or what documents the grand jury reviews.
The grand jury's main job is to investigate crimes and decide whether there is enough evidence to indict the accused. An indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime.
If the grand jury votes to indict, the case will be transferred to a trial court. At the trial court, the defendant will have the chance to enter a plea and to have a trial if they plead not guilty.
Faults with the Selection Process
There are several potential faults with the grand jury selection process. One fault is that the pool of potential jurors is not always representative of the community. This can happen if the list of registered voters is not up-to-date or if certain groups of people are systematically excluded from the list.
Another fault is that the selection process is not always random. In some cases, judges or prosecutors may have a say in who is chosen for the grand jury.
These faults can lead to grand juries that are not impartial or representative of the community. This can result in unfair indictments or decisions not to indict.
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