grand jury

noun

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried

grand juror noun

Examples of grand jury in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In New York, such filings are often preliminary, as felony cases must receive a grand jury indictment to move forward unless the defendant waives the requirement. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024

Such filings are often a first step in the criminal process because, in New York, all felony cases require a grand jury indictment to proceed to trial unless a defendant waives that requirement. —Cedar Attanasio, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024

Officials said the charges came after investigators presented additional evidence to a grand jury following the arrest of 33-year-old Andrew Kammerer, the child's father. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2024

Talan Renner, 18, was one of seven people indicted by a grand jury on first- and second-degree murder and kidnapping charges in the fatal beating of Lord during a 2023 Halloween party in Queen Creek. —Jimmy Jenkins, Arizona Republic, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

grand jury

noun

: a jury that chiefly examines accusations of crime made against persons and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried

Legal Definition

grand jury

noun

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried see also no bill and true bill at bill sense 3b, indictment compare petit jury, special grand jury