ABA Family Legal Guide

Criminal Justice

The Police and Your Rights

Criminal Charges

Why is it called the "grand" jury?

Because it's usually bigger than the trial jury. The grand jury is a body of citizens that varies in size depending on the jurisdiction, but often includes as many as twenty-three jurors and usually more than twelve (which is why juries at trial--twelve persons or fewer--are sometimes called "petit," the French word for "small").