grand jury

American  

noun

1. 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.

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grand jury British  

noun

1. 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

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grand jury Cultural  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of grand jury

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

Example Sentences

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

To make “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” winner of the Venice Film Festival’s grand jury award and now Oscar-nominated for international feature, the writer-director set aside her next project.

From Los Angeles Times

The Pentagon has since tried in vain to demote his military rank and a grand jury have declined to charge him with seditious conspiracy.

From BBC

Since then, numerous other witnesses have been called into the grand jury room to testify in the investigation into Celeste’s death.

From Los Angeles Times