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

In South Carolina, a grand jury and a trial jury each serve a very different purpose in criminal defense law. Grand juries are composed of six to twelve individuals chosen from the community and tasked with determining whether or not criminal charges should be brought against someone. The grand jury must decide whether the evidence presented is sufficient to charge someone with a crime. If the grand jury decides yes, a formal indictment is issued and the case then proceeds to trial. A trial jury, on the other hand, is what we typically think of when talking about courtrooms. This jury is comprised of six to twelve jurors who are tasked with deciding whether or not the defendant is guilty or innocent. The jury hears testimony from both the prosecution and the defense, as well as any evidence presented during the trial. They then use the evidence, as well as the instructions from the judge, to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. In conclusion, the difference between a grand jury and a trial jury in criminal defense law in South Carolina is that a grand jury decides if criminal charges should be brought forward while a trial jury decides if a defendant is guilty or not guilty.

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