When you think about a jury, what comes to mind will likely be a jury of 12 of your peers delivering a verdict on whether or not someone is guilty of a criminal offense. This is referred to as a petite jury. However, you’ll find that there’s a second form of jury that is involved in criminal cases – a grand jury. These matters can be incredibly complicated to navigate, so it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced Cobb County criminal defense lawyer to discuss your legal options and help you fight for the best possible outcome during these difficult times.
What Does a Grand Jury Do?
A grand jury consists of 16-23 individuals who will hear the state’s evidence against someone. Their primary role is to determine if the state has enough evidence against a person to charge them with a criminal offense and proceed to trial. If they believe the state has enough evidence to charge someone, the jury will issue an indictment.
It’s critical to understand that an indictment is not a conviction, and the jury is not responsible for determining whether or not you are guilty of the charges brought against you. That will be the job of the petite jury during your criminal trial.
How Will I Know if My Case Involves One?
In general, grand jury proceedings happen before criminal charges are brought against someone, meaning you may not know you’ve been the target of a grand jury trial until you are arrested and charged with the crime. However, depending on the circumstances of your alleged crimes, you may know beforehand that a grand jury is taking place.
In some instances, you may receive a grand jury subpoena. This is a legal document informing you that you must either testify in front of the grand jury or provide documentation to the state to be presented to the jury. If you receive a subpoena, you must comply with the orders.
Unfortunately, if you do receive a subpoena, it will not contain information regarding your alleged involvement in the case. This means you may be the target, a suspect, or a witness. In some cases, you may not receive a subpoena at all. If you do, you should immediately connect with an experienced attorney, as they may be able to obtain more information from the prosecution regarding your role in the matter to help you prepare.
At Miller Law Practice, LLC, we understand how difficult these matters can be to navigate. That is why we will do everything in our power to help you navigate these difficult times to fight for the best possible outcome for your circumstances. Contact us today to learn how we can fight for you.
