Formation of Grand Jury

A Las Vegas Defense Lawyer Unveils How Grand Juries are Formed in Nevada

There are two primary ways a defendant can end up with formal criminal charges against him. One way is when a prosecutor submits a sworn statement called an information.  Another is for a prosecutor to impanel a grand jury, which hands down an indictment to the court. The indictment contains an accusation in writing that the grand jury presents to a competent court. Both an information and an indictment can trigger an arrest and arraignment. During the arraignment, the defendant enters a plea and the case moves forward from there. The defendant gets a preliminary hearing if he was arraigned based on an information, but does not get this hearing if he was arraigned based on indictment since the grand jury has already determined probable cause exists to move forward with criminal prosecution.

The decision made by a grand jury can determine if you face the indignity of an arrest, and the damage to your reputation that comes from being formally charged with a crime.  If a grand jury indicts, you will need to navigate the criminal justice system successfully to try to avoid actually being prosecuted for and found guilty of a serious criminal offense. A Las Vegas defense lawyer should be consulted as soon as you believe you are at risk of being accused of a serious crime, so your lawyer can help you to try to avoid being indicted and can begin helping you prepare a strong case if the worst happens and an indictment is handed down.

LV Criminal Defense has extensive experience providing legal representation to clients who are being faced with the prospect of a grand jury indictment. We also provide dedicated legal advocacy to clients who have already been indicted and who need help responding to their criminal charges. When you want a defense attorney in las Vegas that you can count on to bring experience to the table, give us a call.

The Rules for Formation of a Grand Jury

A grand jury has a tremendous amount of power, as the decisions made by grand  jury members will determine if a defendant is going to be put on trial, with his future and freedom at stake. It is imperative that a grand jury be comprised of jurors who can be fair and impartial and who can understand the legal issues presented to them.

Nevada Revised Statutes section 172.045 through 172.097 detail the specific rules and guidelines associated with the formation of a grand jury. These rules and guidelines establish a clear protocol for how a grand jury may be formed.

N.R.S. 172.045 stipulates that a grand jury must be empaneled according to rules in Chapter 6 of Nevada Revised Statutes. Chapter 6 establishes protocols for how counties should impanel grand jury members, with different protocols for counties with populations above 100,000 compared with counties with populations below 100,000.

The process in both cases begins with the random selection of 50 persons qualified to be prospective grand jurors.  Questionnaires are mailed out to potential grand jurors detailing estimated time to serve, duties to be performed, and amount of pay. The questionnaires are returned with potential jurors indicating if they are willing to serve. This process is repeated until an appropriately-sized panel is established of people willing to serve.

Grand jury members from the list of eligible jurors are then summoned when a case arises, until a grand jury is assembled that can hear evidence from the prosecutor and make a determination on whether to indict.

Other rules for the formation of a grand jury are also established in the relevant Nevada Code sections, including rules and requirements for:

• Impaneling a grand jury to inquire into a specific limited matter.
• Challenges to grand jurors and to grand juries. A grand juror can be challenged if not legally qualified to serve, and the array of jurors may be challenged if not summonsed in accordance with the law.
• Motions to dismiss indictments based on objections to the composition of the grand jury.
• Naming officers of the grand jury. A foreman, deputy foreman, and secretary must be elected. Secretaries keep records of the decisions made by grand jurors and file records with the clerk of the court. A foreman administers an oath and signs all indictments, and the deputy foreman acts when the foreman must be absent.
• Oaths that must be taken by members of the grand jury. Grand juries must pledge an oath to legitimately inquire into whether an offense was committed by considering evidence. Grand jurors must also pledge not to disclose information and to always present the truth and not accept bribes or inducements or act through malice or hatred.
• Information and instructions which must be provided to the grand jury, including details on the charges the defendant faces.
• Supervision of an impaneled grand jury by the impaneling judge.

The rules related to grand juries are complex, but defendants who are indicted must understand these rules because it can sometimes be possible to get an indictment thrown out if proper protocols were not followed.

The rules are designed to ensure a defendant’s due process rights are respected and that an impartial grand jury is impaneled to make a fair decision about whether a defendant deserves to stand trial.

Getting Legal Help During Grand Jury Proceedings

A grand jury is different from a jury that will preside over a criminal trial. The sole function of a grand jury is to decide if a defendant should actually face prosecution and, if so, to hand down an indictment. When a defendant is indicted by a grand jury, the defendant does not get a chance to argue against prosecution in a preliminary hearing.  As a result, the defendant generally faces the stress and costs associated with a full trial once indicted.

It is imperative defendants understand the grand jury process and know what their rights are when under investigation or facing an indictment.  A Las Vegas criminal lawyer can provide guidance to defendants during the period before an indictment, as well as after an indictment is handed down.

Contact LV Criminal Defense today to learn more about how our legal team can assist you in protecting yourself as a grand jury considers indicting you.