Grand Jury and Regular Jury Basics
Submitted by Judge Three Rivers on
What’s the difference between a grand jury and a regular jury?
A grand jury (12 to 23 people) is a body that investigates criminal conduct. Federal, state and county prosecutors utilize grand juries to decide whether probable cause exists to support criminal charges.
A regular jury (6 to 12 people) – aka a petit jury – hears only trial cases. A regular jury decides the facts. The judge presiding over the trial decides the law. A petit jury decides: