Selection of Grand Jurors: Ensuring a Fair Cross-Section of the Community
Federal Law and Random Selection
In order to ensure the impartiality and fairness of judicial proceedings, federal law mandates that grand juries be selected at random from a fair cross-section of the community in the district or division in question. This requirement is enshrined in the Jury Selection and Service Act, which establishes the process for selecting jurors and ensuring that they represent the diversity of the community they serve.
Age and Qualification
Citizens who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to serve on a federal grand jury. In order to be legally qualified, potential jurors must possess the ability to read, write, and understand the English language, and must not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
Size and Summoning
A federal grand jury must have between 16 and 23 members. The court is responsible for ordering that enough legally qualified persons be summoned to meet this requirement. Once summoned, potential jurors are subject to a screening process to ensure that they meet the necessary qualifications and are not disqualified due to bias or other factors.
Purpose and Secrecy
Federal grand juries are responsible for hearing evidence concerning crimes against the laws of the United States. They operate in secrecy to protect the privacy of witnesses and to ensure that the deliberations of the jury are not influenced by external factors. The grand jury's primary function is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and whether an indictment should be issued.
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