Grand Jury vs. Trial Jury: What's the Difference?
Introduction
Juries play a vital role in the American justice system. They are responsible for deciding the guilt or innocence of criminal defendants and the amount of damages to be awarded in civil cases. There are two main types of juries: grand juries and trial juries.
Grand Juries
A grand jury is a legal body comprised of laypeople that determines whether there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges to trial. Grand juries are sometimes described as performing accusatory and investigatory functions, but their principal function is to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused person committed it.
Grand jury proceedings are secret. The public is not allowed to attend grand jury hearings, and the jurors are not allowed to talk about their deliberations. This secrecy is designed to protect the rights of the accused and to encourage witnesses to come forward with information.
If a grand jury finds that there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, it will issue an indictment. An indictment is a formal accusation that charges the accused person with a crime. The accused person will then be arraigned on the indictment and will have the opportunity to enter a plea.
Trial Juries
A trial jury is a group of laypeople who listen to the evidence in a criminal or civil case and decide the verdict. Trial juries are generally open to the public, and the jurors are allowed to talk about their deliberations after the trial is over.
Trial juries are responsible for deciding the guilt or innocence of criminal defendants and the amount of damages to be awarded in civil cases. In criminal cases, the jury must reach a unanimous verdict in order to convict the defendant. In civil cases, the jury must reach a verdict by a majority vote.
Conclusion
Grand juries and trial juries play important roles in the American justice system. Grand juries help to protect the rights of the accused by ensuring that there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges to trial. Trial juries help to ensure that criminal defendants and civil plaintiffs receive a fair trial.
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