What is a Grand Jury? What does it mean if my case went to the Grand Jury?

by Aaron Black • March 25, 2012
The Grand Jury is a secret proceeding that consists of 16 grand jurors, a prosecutor, and the government's witness (typically a cop). The defendant and his/her attorney are not allowed to attend unless the defendant specifically requests to testify at the Grand Jury and the grand jurors wish to hear from the defendant.

A Grand Jury's role is to determine if probable cause exists to formally charge a defendant with a crime. If the Grand Jury finds probable cause they "hand up" an Indictment. An indictment is the formal charging document which lists the charge(s) against a defendant.

If you have been indicted by the Grand Jury you are most likely facing serious felony charges. A felony conviction can ruin your life. If your case was dismissed to the Grand Jury in Phoenix, you more than likely declined to accept your plea offer resulting in your case being dismissed to the Grand Jury. Please understand that by no means was your case dismissed.

If you have been indicted by the Grand Jury you are most likely facing serious felony charges and I strongly encourage you to hire a criminal defense attorney to represent you.

When choosing a criminal Defense Lawyer do your homework by checking on their qualifications. For example, are they listed in the National Advocacy for DUI Defense, are the rated by Martindale-Hubbell and of course are they listed on AVVO? I also encourage you to ask for recommendations from people that you trust, search online and interview several attorneys before making a decision.

If you have been indicted in Arizona contact Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer Aaron Black. Aaron is recognized as a 2012 Super Lawyer Rising Star in Criminal Defense (Top 2.5% of lawyers under 40 in Arizona and New Mexico). He is rated 10/10 on AVVO.com, and is rated by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent Lawyer (the highest level of professional excellence).
 

About the Author

Aaron Black is the founder and sole attorney of the Law Office of Aaron Black. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, his DUI and criminal defense law firm provides legal services to people who have received felony or misdemeanor charges from the state.

Aaron has developed a strong interest in defending people who have been arrested and received criminal charges for driving under the influence. With his professionalism and knowledge of Arizona DUI and criminal law, he has acted as a check and balance on the police, prosecution and courts and has protected a great number of his clients from excessive and unfair sentencing.

Along with DUI defense, Aaron handles a range of other criminal matters, including aggravated assault, burglary, domestic violence, drug possession, drug trafficking, fraud defense, insurance fraud, sex crimes and white-collar crime.

After graduating college in 2003 from the University of Arizona, Aaron decided to pursue a law degree. He followed a family long tradition and went to the University of South Dakota School of Law where he pursued his goal of becoming a criminal defense lawyer.

After passing the Arizona and South Dakota bar exams, Aaron joined the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender where he defended hundreds of people charged with serious criminal offenses. His work as a public defender helped him sharpen his litigation skills and gave him a unique insight into the Arizona criminal justice system.

Over the course of his 15-year legal career, Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time in both Arizona justice, municipal, state and federal courts. He has argued over 50 jury trials, tried over 100 bench trials and has become one of the highest-rated criminal and DUI defense attorneys in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. He has received a 10/10 rating from the legal directory Avvo because of his legal background and successful case record. Since 2014, he has received the Super Lawyer rating for his work as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.

You can review Aaron’s Attorney Bio page for more information about his background, education and experience as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.
 
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