What is a Grand Jury?

• A. A special type of jury that investigates whether criminal charges should be brought. Can have 16-23 people.
• B. A group of citizens selected from the community to hear evidence and decide a case.
• C. An official who records testimony.
• D. A written document asking the Court to decide a contested issue.

Answer: (A)

A Grand jury is a group of citizens convened to determine whether there is enough evidence to bring formal criminal charges. Their job isn’t to decide guilt or innocence; they decide whether an indictment should be issued based on evidence presented by the prosecution. They’re typically larger than a trial jury, commonly 16 to 23 members, and the proceedings are usually kept private. This matches the description of a grand jury as a special type of jury that investigates whether charges should be brought and can have 16-23 people. The other descriptions refer to a regular trial jury that hears evidence and decides a case, a court official who records testimony, or a written document asking the Court to decide a contested issue, none of which define a grand jury.