What is a grand jury?

• A. A jury that determines whether there is enough evidence to justify a trial.
• B. A panel that determines guilt in criminal cases.
• C. A panel that selects jurors for trial.
• D. A body that issues warrants.

Answer: (A)

Grand juries act as a gatekeeper to the charging stage. Their role is to review evidence presented by the prosecutor and decide whether there is enough information to justify bringing someone to trial—i.e., whether there is probable cause to indict. They do not determine guilt; guilt is decided later by a trial with a petit jury if the case goes forward. They also don’t select jurors for a trial, and they don’t issue warrants—those tasks belong to the court and law enforcement with proper authorization. So the grand jury’s purpose is to determine whether there should be a formal charge, not to convict or to handle warrants.