grand jury

American

noun

a jury, at common law, of 12 to 23 persons, designated to inquire into alleged violations of the law in order to ascertain whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant trial.

grand jury British

noun

law (esp in the US and, now rarely, in Canada) a jury of between 12 and 23 persons summoned to inquire into accusations of crime and ascertain whether the evidence is adequate to found an indictment. Abolished in Britain in 1948 Compare petit jury

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

grand jury Cultural

A jury that decides whether the evidence warrants bringing an accused person to trial. Once indicted (see indictment) by a grand jury, a person must stand trial.

Etymology

Origin of grand jury

First recorded in 1490–1500, grand jury is from Anglo-French graund juree

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York served upon the bankruptcy trustee a grand jury subpoena seeking certain information and documents.

From Los Angeles Times

The filings were released after D4vd's family were summoned by a California court to testify before the grand jury.

From BBC

“Patrick wants everyone to know that he would never do anything to harm his sister and that he is very grateful that the grand jury has recognized that with their no-bill,” the attorneys said.

From Los Angeles Times

A special prosecutor is re-examining the Spivey investigation and has impaneled a grand jury to assess the allegations of police misconduct on behalf of Boyd and Williams.

From The Wall Street Journal

After a judge dismissed the case, two federal grand juries declined to indict James again, and Keller returned to Missouri.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023