grand jury

noun

1. a jury, at common law, of 12 to 23 persons, designated to inquire into alleged violations of the law in order to ascertain whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant trial.

grand jury

noun

1. law (esp in the US and, now rarely, in Canada) a jury of between 12 and 23 persons summoned to inquire into accusations of crime and ascertain whether the evidence is adequate to found an indictment. Abolished in Britain in 1948 Compare petit jury

grand jury

1. A jury that decides whether the evidence warrants bringing an accused person to trial. Once indicted ( see indictment ) by a grand jury, a person must stand trial.

Word History and Origins

Origin of grand jury¹

First recorded in 1490–1500, grand jury is from Anglo-French graund juree

Example Sentences

The women all shared similar stories with a grand jury, according to the criminal complaint.

From Washington Post

In a grand jury hearing room he met Sutherland, who had been working independently at the jail, also undercover.

From Washington Post

Of those qualified for jury service who receive notices, jury pools can be randomly selected when they are needed for specific trials or grand juries.

From Voice of San Diego

He was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2016 on 24 counts including wire fraud and theft of government funds but federal prosecutors reached an agreement in 2019 and charges were dropped.

From Washington Blade

Milton resigned as CEO, and the SEC has launched an inquiry into Nikola, including grand jury subpoenas.

From Fortune

The 2001 grand jury indictment named 21 suspects as being involved in the U.S. embassy bombings, including Osama bin Laden.

From The Daily Beast

A grand jury investigated but found Foster had broken no law.

From The Daily Beast

Widespread, popular protests began last week after the local grand jury decision.

From The Daily Beast

Brooklyn district attorney Ken Thompson explained his decision to impanel a grand jury in a statement released Friday.

From The Daily Beast

I pledge to conduct a full and fair investigation and to give the grand jury all of the information necessary to do its job.

From The Daily Beast

In October, 1861, he was indicted by the Grand Jury, and his paper suppressed.

From Project Gutenberg

Guess the grand jury's got suthin' to say to it, hain't they?

From Project Gutenberg

The grand jury came into Court and presented true bills of indictment against Margaret Collins.

From Project Gutenberg

They are marshaling in witnesses before the grand jury—those men from the Warren, and you know what they'll say, of course!

From Project Gutenberg

He was sworn in a freeman at large in 1656, and appears to have been presented by the Grand Jury in 1683 as a religious vagrant.

From Project Gutenberg