What's the difference between a 'jury' and a 'grand jury'?
2007-09-25 07:24:28 · 3 answers · asked by razor_sharp_redhead 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
is a grand jury selected the same way as a trial jury?
2007-09-25 07:43:43 · update #1
grand jury determines whether the prosecutor has enough evidence to go to trial. The grand jury makes no final determination of guilt.
2007-09-25 07:28:00 · answer #1 · answered by hookem_hornz 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A 'regular' jury serves as the trier of fact -- the one who determined what really happened -- at a trial, either civil or criminal. They are responsible for deciding who is telling the truth, and making a verdict about what happened.
A grand jury serves a different purpose -- it acts as a check on prosecutors who would be too aggressive. The grand jury exists at the US federal level, and in many states -- its job is to examine the initial evidence, and determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial in the first place.
The grand jury doesn't determine the end result -- just whether there is enough to move forward -- which is the indictment.
2007-09-25 15:10:15 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A grand jury is used by the Federal court system to determine if there is a basis to go to trial. They basically decide if there is enough evidence, testimony, etc. to conduct a trial. A trial jury is the typical 12 person jury that actually determines a defendants status of guilty or not guilty. These 12 must all agree and find the that defendant is guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt" where as the grand jury's burden is lesser since they don't actually send anyone to jail, just to court.
2007-09-25 14:29:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anthony P 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋