grand juror: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Legal
Quick answer
What does “grand juror” mean?
A member of a grand jury, a group of citizens who examine evidence to determine whether there is probable cause to bring criminal charges against someone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of a grand jury, a group of citizens who examine evidence to determine whether there is probable cause to bring criminal charges against someone.
A citizen serving on a grand jury, which operates in secret to review prosecutorial evidence and decide if a case should proceed to trial. The role is investigatory, not adjudicatory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and the institution are almost exclusively American. The UK and most Commonwealth countries abolished grand juries in the 20th century, though they persist in some forms in Scotland (where it is called a 'criminal court jury' for solemn procedure).
Connotations
In the US, it carries connotations of civic duty and prosecutorial oversight. In the UK, it is a historical term.
Frequency
Very frequent in US legal contexts; virtually absent in contemporary British English except in historical or comparative legal discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “grand juror” in a Sentence
[Person] served as a grand juror for [Case/Jurisdiction].The [Court] selected [Number] grand jurors.[Grand Juror] heard testimony from [Witness].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grand juror” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- She was summoned to grand-juror for the district court.
- Citizens are occasionally grand-juried for federal investigations.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- The grand-juror process is confidential.
- He had grand-juror service last year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in discussions of corporate crime or white-collar criminal proceedings.
Academic
Used in law, criminology, political science, and history texts discussing the US justice system.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation unless someone is discussing their civic duty or a high-profile case.
Technical
Core term in US legal procedure, criminal law, and constitutional law.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grand juror”
- Using 'grand juror' to refer to a trial juror.
- Pronouncing 'juror' as /ˈdʒɔːrə/ instead of /ˈdʒʊərə/ or /ˈdʒʊrər/.
- Assuming the role involves deciding guilt or innocence.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A grand juror reviews evidence in secret to decide if charges should be filed (indictment). A trial juror (petit juror) listens to a public trial and decides guilt or innocence.
Terms vary by jurisdiction but can last from a month to over a year, often meeting one or more days per week to hear multiple cases.
Generally, no. Grand jury proceedings are secret to protect the reputation of the unindicted and the integrity of the investigation.
No. While the federal system and many states use them for felonies, some states use preliminary hearings before a judge as an alternative.
A member of a grand jury, a group of citizens who examine evidence to determine whether there is probable cause to bring criminal charges against someone.
Grand juror is usually formal, legal in register.
Grand juror: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈdʒʊərə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈdʒʊrər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GRAND = large (in size or importance) + JUROR = someone who judges. A grand juror judges whether a case is important enough for a full trial.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GRAND JUROR IS A GATEKEEPER (determines what passes through to the trial stage).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the role of a 'grand juror' most active today?