What is a federal grand jury?

A federal grand jury is a group of 16 to 23 citizens of a federal district court empowered to investigate criminal activity and to determine whether someone should be charged with a federal crime. The grand jury proceedings are conducted by a federal prosecutor and presented with evidence by witnesses and documents. The evidence is used by the grand jury to decide if there is enough evidence to charge an individual with a federal crime. In Washington, federal grand juries are used to investigate alleged violations of federal laws, including fraud, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and terrorism, among other federal crimes. A grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence, but rather if sufficient evidence exists for a person to be formally charged with a federal crime. The grand jury no longer exists in Washington State, but is still present in the federal court system since it is a procedural requirement for the federal government to indict someone for a federal crime. The federal grand jury is a vital part of the judicial system in Washington and helps ensure that citizens accused of federal crimes can be properly heard by a jury of their peers. It also helps uphold the integrity of the legal system, since it is a safeguard for citizens against charges brought without sufficient evidence. In addition, the federal grand jury helps protect citizens’ right to due process by providing a formal way to review and evaluate evidence of criminal activity.

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