A Grand Jury is a panel of eighteen (18) Clarke, Washington and Choctaw County citizens who are selected at random from the group of prospective jurors who have been summoned for jury service. The Grand Jury is in session for one week per month for three consecutive months. Jurors selected to serve as a grand juror will serve during each of these three weeks. Each year, four Grand Juries are empaneled. Special sessions of the Grand Jury may also be scheduled as needed. Grand jurors selected for special sessions usually serve only one week.
The purpose of the Grand Jury is to hear testimony from witnesses and review the State’s evidence to determine if there is probable cause to issue an indictment against a suspect. In Alabama, a Grand Jury must return an indictment before any felony case can go to trial.
- Composition: An Alabama state grand jury consists of 18 citizens from the local community. (Federal grand juries in Alabama have 23 members).
- Requirement: No felony case can go to trial in Alabama without a formal charging document or Indictment returned by a grand jury.
- Secrecy: Proceedings are held in private. Only the district attorney, court reporter, and witnesses are allowed inside the room during testimony. This secrecy protects people who are falsely accused and encourages witnesses to speak freely.
- The Outcome: The grand jury decides by a majority vote. If there is enough evidence, they issue a “true bill” (an indictment). If there is not enough evidence, they issue a “no bill,” meaning the case does not proceed.
- Role vs. Trial Jury: A grand jury does not decide whether a person is guilty or innocent; it only decides if a formal trial should happen.
