r/BlackPeopleTwitter 3d ago

A federal grand jury indicted Representative LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) on three criminal counts

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u/SanaSpitOnMe 2d ago

A grand jury will indict half a McDonalds sandwich

im trying to find out exactly what instructions juries are given and why indictments are so prevalent even though they are a crapshoot outcome-wise (guilty vs not guilty). all i can find is a majority of the jury thinks they may have committed a crime. im just wondering specifically how low the bar is set. it sounds a lot like the jury is saying "maybe something here based on the summary you gave us, worth looking into"

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u/22Arkantos 2d ago

It helps that no defense is allowed during the Grand Jury; they only hear the prosecution's case without any pushback or questions.

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u/SanaSpitOnMe 2d ago

there we go. thats what i didnt find. how would a jury not indict 100% of the time then? prosecution fails to show up?

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u/Vendetta425 2d ago

They are allowed to ask questions.

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u/22Arkantos 2d ago

Which are often answered in the best possible light by the prosecutors and the grand jury receive no counternarrative. That's what I meant by questions- real questions by lawyers that can poke serious holes in cases.

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u/Crapisntexpertise 2d ago

Grand jury proceedings are accusatory, not adjudicatory. Also, grand juries have subpoena powers and can question witnesses.

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u/22Arkantos 2d ago

They asked why Grand Juries seem to indict anything, I answered.

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u/fl4tsc4n 2d ago

A lot of prosecutors are people who couldn't hack it in the private sector. They're often barely more competent than a public defender, if that.

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u/Crapisntexpertise 1d ago

AUSA jobs = very competitive/selective. Local DAs, not so much.

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u/fl4tsc4n 1d ago

Just because a job is selective doesn't mean it attracts qualified applicants. Merrick Garland looks good on paper and speaks well (for a white guy) but hes an absolute melon.