Grand Jury Term

• A grand jury will meet for a period of time that varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. This can be between 10 days and 24 months, and a special grand jury can sit for up to 36 months. The grand jury can work from five days a week to as little as once a month, according to the court's requirements. The people who are called on to testify before a grand jury--and their testimony is--secret. The proceedings are recorded by a court reporter or a tape recorder. This secrecy provides anonymity for those who testify as well as for the jurors, and is meant to prevent tampering with evidence. A judge will not be present as the jury listens to testimony and reviews evidence. You will make a collective decision to hand down an indictment or dismiss a potential case.
  
  

What You Must Do

• Report to the courthouse on the date and at the specific time listed on your letter. If you are not able to go to the court you must phone the contact listed in the letter. The grand jury members are selected in the same manner that trial jurors are; they are chosen at random from a public database, such as voter registration or driver's license records. You will be sworn in as a juror in the presence of a judge, and will be given instructions on the time and schedule of service for the grand jury duties you will undertake. You will have cases presented to you by the district attorney until the day you are called before the judge to be dismissed and thanked for your service.
  
  

Reasons for Dismissal of Duty

• Jury service is a civic duty. Ignoring a subpoena is not a legal option. You may be excused from grand jury duty if you can prove it will be a hardship for you--if you care for an ill or dependent person, are undergoing treatments for a medical condition, serve in a public safety position or are over a certain age. No matter what your circumstances, however, you must contact the court or appear for the first date on your letter calling you to duty.