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Simple English definitions for legal terms
extraordinary grand jury
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A quick definition of extraordinary grand jury:
An extraordinary grand jury is a group of people, usually around 23, who are chosen to sit for at least a month and decide whether to issue indictments. They do this in secret and without the suspect being present. If they decide there is enough evidence, they will charge the suspect with a crime. There are different types of grand juries, including those that investigate possible crimes and those that only decide whether to issue an indictment. An extraordinary grand jury is one that is specially summoned when the regular grand jury is not available.A more thorough explanation:
An extraordinary grand jury is a type of grand jury that is specially summoned when the regular grand jury has already been discharged or has not been drawn. It has limited authority and is also known as an additional or special grand jury.
For example, if a regular grand jury has completed its term and there are still pending cases that require a grand jury, an extraordinary grand jury may be summoned to handle those cases. It is important to note that an extraordinary grand jury has the same functions as a regular grand jury, which is to evaluate evidence and decide whether to issue indictments.
Another example is when a high-profile case requires a grand jury, and the regular grand jury is not deemed suitable due to potential conflicts of interest or bias. In this case, an extraordinary grand jury may be summoned to ensure a fair and impartial evaluation of the evidence.
Overall, an extraordinary grand jury is a special type of grand jury that is summoned for specific purposes and has limited authority.