Behind some of the biggest scandals in American history are everyday, ordinary Americans.
They were assigned to serve on a grand jury and to investigate fraud, waste, and corruption in our public institutions.
Citizen-powered grand juries have existed since the beginning of America. They give you and your fellow Americans a chance to expose misuse and abuse from people responsible for the public interest who abandon that responsibility.
They also give you a chance to make history.
During the 1970s, for example, numerous aides close to President Richard Nixon were indicted by a federal grand jury during a political scandal.
President Bill Clinton was investigated by a federal grand jury over his sexual relationship with an intern during the 1990s.
A 2014 grand jury in Missouri probed the deadly police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
In the case of Brown, nationwide protests erupted over the grand jury’s decision not to indict the officer.
Tradition
Grand juries go all the way back in American history to the U.S. Constitution. Historically, they were responsible for protecting everyday citizens from an overly aggressive government. Grand juries are not the juries you might be thinking of.
As opposed to traditional juries, grand juries enjoy extraordinary legal permissions. That means certain safeguards must be in place to ensure the fair administration of justice.
In addition to seeking evidence of wrongdoing, the grand jury must also uphold the rights of defendants and suspects under investigation.
If you’re not currently serving on a grand jury, maybe you need help from a lawyer? If so, call Joe Norwood and Norwood.Law for a consultation at 918-582-6464.
Read about Norwood.Law’s past achievements here.
Know this
If you’ve been called upon to serve on a grand jury, you’re holding one of the oldest positions in America’s constitutional government.
The grand jury is not part of the judiciary. It is not part of the prosecutor’s office.
Federal grand juries return an indictment in nearly every case the government brings. Grand jurors often feel compelled to follow the prosecutor’s argument.
But the Constitution does not mandate that you vote with the prosecutor.
No branch
A federal grand jury, as opposed to an Oklahoma grand jury, is not the same as a civil or criminal trial. It does not decide guilt or innocence. It does not require proof “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Federal grand jurors have the unique power to tell the government “no.”
They answer a different question: Is there probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and a certain person did it?
You are responsible for pursuing wrongdoers. But your job also as a grand juror is not just to pursue wrongdoers but also to clear the innocent.
And no one controls how you vote.
For you
What’s your job on a federal grand jury?
- A “no” vote is a complete answer. You owe no one a justification beyond your own honest assessment of the evidence.
- Prosecutors frame stories. That is their job. Your job is to listen to the evidence, not the framing.
- The prosecutor is not your lawyer.
- Before voting, ask the prosecutor to state, on the record, the elements of each charged offense.
- Ask about exculpatory evidence. Federal prosecutors are required to present evidence even when it points to a person’s innocence. If you believe evidence is being withheld from you, ask about it.
- If you need a second look at the statute, just ask.
- Write the question down. Questions on paper are easier to answer carefully and easier to preserve in the record.
Act now
Joe Norwood and Norwood.Law have the experience and knowledge you need.
Maybe you’re needing legal protection for a small business. Maybe you’re fighting for child custody. Maybe you’re fighting to protect your civil rights.
Norwood.Law practices family, estate, personal injury, civil rights, criminal, business law and more. Let Joe Norwood help you return to the life you had or gain the one you want.
Call for a consultation at 918-582-6464.
Evidence
As a juror, you may ask questions.
You can also ask the prosecutor to clarify the law. You can interview witnesses and examine documentary evidence. You’re not limited to what the prosecutor puts in front of you.
You can compel the release of evidence or the giving of testimony.
When it’s time to vote, you can vote your conscience without explaining yourself. You are not required to justify it to anyone. You may not be punished for your vote.
Furthermore, the jury is not required to be unanimous in its vote.
Our grand-jury system here in Oklahoma could be even stronger than the federal system. We’re one of only a handful of states that gives everyday citizens the right to seek a grand jury through a petition.
Twelve jurors make up a county grand jury in Oklahoma. Nine can vote to indict. The grand jury inquires into “all public offenses committed or triable in the county” and presents them to the court by indictment or accusation.
Investigate
According to the Oklahoma news site NonDoc, grand juries here can investigate:
- Murder
- Rape
- Bribery
- Extortion
- Arson
- Perjury
- Fraud
- Embezzlement
- Drug crimes
- Organized crime
- Public corruption
- Securities violations
- Government purchases
- Misappropriation of public funds
Why it matters
The grand jury was placed in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution for a reason. The founders had lived under a system in which government prosecutors decided, alone, who would face a criminal charge. They did not want that system to follow them into the new republic. They wrote the grand jury into the Constitution as a check.
Fit to print
Joe Norwood’s successes in both civil and criminal law have been publicized by news organizations nationwide.
So stay here to get smart.
If you need legal help, don’t wait. Call Joe Norwood for a consultation at 918-582-6464.
Latitude
The grand jury has a wide latitude for inquiring into violations of the law. They’re generally unrestrained by the technical procedural and evidentiary rules governing criminal trials.
Here are just some of its duties:
- Act impartially
- Attend jury sessions
- Maintain secrecy
- Protect the innocent
- Follow legal instructions
Secrecy
A federal grand jury consists of between 16 and 23 members, and a quorum of at least 16 jurors is required for the grand jury to conduct its business. An indictment is valid if at least 12 jurors vote in favor, regardless of whether all voting jurors attended every session.
Grand jury proceedings are kept secret. This ensures that grand jurors can deliberate freely without the fear of retaliation or outside pressure. Secrecy also protects the identities of witnesses, the substance of testimony, and the direction of the investigation.
Winning it all
Joe Norwood’s record says it all.
He’s won against foreign manufacturers. He’s won against the government over wrongful convictions. He’s won against banking interests and insurance companies.
Hurry and call now.
Joseph M. Norwood is a Tulsa attorney with the courtroom expertise you need. Contact his office at 918-582-6464.
By G.W. Schulz
* Image: President Bill Clinton | Gage Skidmore
