A federal grand jury can issue an indictment to initiate criminal charges in United States federal prosecutions.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
Federal criminal procedure for bringing charges.
Grand juries are secret proceedings in which defendants and defense attorneys are generally not present to ask questions or defend themselves.
October 06, 2025
high
legal
Describes the typical format of grand jury proceedings in U.S. practice.
A grand jury indictment can, in some U.S. jurisdictions, supersede previously filed charges and allow legal proceedings to proceed without a preliminary hearing.
October 06, 2025
high
legal
Explains a procedural effect of obtaining a grand jury indictment in certain U.S. jurisdictions.
Preliminary hearings are court proceedings held to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a defendant to stand trial.
October 06, 2025
high
legal
Defines the purpose of a preliminary hearing in criminal procedure.