What is the difference between a grand jury and a trial jury in criminal defense law?

A grand jury and a trial jury serve different roles in criminal defense law in California. A grand jury is a group of twenty three citizens who are randomly selected from the community. The purpose of the grand jury is to determine if there’s enough evidence for the prosecutor to proceed with criminal charges. The grand jury does not determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant, just whether or not the prosecutor should move forward with the charges. A trial jury, on the other hand, is made up of twelve randomly selected individuals from the community. This jury is responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant. They hear evidence from both sides and are instructed by the judge on the applicable laws. The jury is not responsible for passing sentence, but they do deliberate to deliver a verdict of either guilty or not guilty. In summary, a grand jury determines whether criminal charges should be brought against a defendant, while a trial jury determines whether or not the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charges.

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