Grand Jury Duty
What is a Grand Jury? What is a Grand Jury? Introduction A grand jury is a legal body comprised of laypeople that determines whether there is enough evidence to indict someone for a felony. Indictments bring formal charges for felony cases. They're followed by an arraignment for the criminal charges. Function of a Grand Jury While grand juries are sometimes described as performing accusatory and investigatory functions, the grand jury's principal function is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused person committed it. Grand juries are not trials. They do not determine guilt or innocence. Instead, they decide whether there is enough evidence to support the charges against the accused person. Selection of Grand Jurors Grand jurors are selected from a pool of registered voters in the jurisdiction where the grand jury is convened. They are typically chosen randomly and must m...