Understanding Grand Jury Selection
Jury Eligibility and Selection
To determine the eligibility of prospective jurors, the clerk of the court sends each a mandatory questionnaire to complete. This questionnaire gathers information about the individual's background, experience, and any potential biases or conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to serve as an impartial juror.
Grand Jury Selection
Federal law dictates that grand juries are selected from a fair pool of citizens randomly drawn from lists of registered voters or other sources. The selection process is designed to ensure that the grand jury represents a cross-section of the community and is not biased towards any particular group.
Purpose and Nature of Grand Juries
Grand juries are responsible for evaluating accusations against individuals or entities and determining whether there is sufficient evidence to support an indictment. They are not responsible for determining guilt or innocence, but rather to decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a criminal case.
Grand jurors are citizens who have been randomly selected to serve for a term of up to 18 months. They are provided with legal guidance and instructions by the court and are required to maintain secrecy about the proceedings.
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