grand jury

noun

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of grand jury

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried

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grand juror

noun

See grand jury defined for English-language learners

See grand jury defined for kids

Recent Examples of grand jury from the Web

Libby was convicted of four felonies in 2007 for perjury in testimony to a federal grand jury, lying to F.B.I. investigators and obstruction of justice.

— joshua gallu, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Pardons Cheney Aide Scooter Libby for Perjury in CIA Probe," 13 Apr. 2018
In February, a St. Louis grand jury indicted Greitens on charges of felony invasion of privacy, accusing him of photographing a lover nude without her consent.

— NBC News, "Missouri Sen. McCaskill faces a strong GOP challenger and Trump," 9 Apr. 2018
An Elmore County grand jury cleared the officer who fired the fatal shots; the officer's name was not released.

— marty roney, USA TODAY, "Teen turns down plea deal for 25 years in prison, gets 65 years instead," 5 Apr. 2018
Bradley's case was bound over to a Cuyahoga County grand jury that will decide how the case proceeds.

— adam ferrise, cleveland.com, "Ex-boyfriend charged in death of Cleveland Heights mother found in vacant home makes first court appearance," 2 Apr. 2018
Also on Thursday, a Burlington County grand jury indicted 40-year-old Jimmy Flakes, of Lawnside, on the strict-liability charge for causing the death of a Marlton man last September.

— robert moran, Philly.com, "Man gets 12 years in N.J. prison for causing OD death," 29 Mar. 2018
Satoya Johnson, a 30-year-old former TSA agent without a criminal record, was arrested at her home March 20, five days after a Broward County grand jury indicted her on a second-degree murder charge.

— tonya alanez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Woman claims self defense in shooting death of boyfriend," 27 Mar. 2018
On Friday, a Harris County (Texas) grand jury indicted Bennett on a felony charge of injury of the elderly.

— chris chavez, SI.com, "Report: Michael Bennett Plans To Turn Himself In On Monday," 25 Mar. 2018
The discussion of Landry's bill comes a week after a Baton Rouge grand jury indicted four of the 10 men who were facing criminal charges for Gruver's death.

— wilborn p. nobles iii, NOLA.com, "'Hazing is not an accident': Lawmakers support bill written after LSU student's death," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grand jury.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of grand jury

15th century

GRAND JURY Defined for English Language Learners

grand jury

noun

Definition of grand jury for English Language Learners

law : a group of people who look at the evidence against someone who has been accused of a crime in order to decide if there should be a trial

Law Dictionary

grand jury

noun

legal Definition of grand jury

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried — see also no bill and true bill at bill 3b, indictment — compare petit jury, special grand jury