Qualifications and Roles of Grand and Trial Jurors in New York
Eligibility Criteria for Jury Service in New York State
To be eligible to serve as a juror in New York State, individuals must meet the following qualifications:
- United States citizen
- 18 years of age or older
- Mentally competent
- Able to read and understand English
- A resident of the county where they are summoned
Grand Juries vs. Trial Juries
Both grand juries and trial juries play distinct roles in the New York justice system:
Grand Juries
A grand jury is a body of 16 to 23 people who determine whether there is sufficient evidence to indict a person for a crime. They hear evidence presented by the prosecution and vote on whether to issue an indictment. In most cases in New York City, grand juries receive cases directly from the prosecutor, bypassing a preliminary hearing.
Trial Juries
Trial juries are responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of a defendant in a criminal case. They hear evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense and render a verdict based on the evidence.
Grand Jury Procedures in New York
In New York, all felony cases must be presented to a grand jury unless the defendant waives their right to a grand jury hearing. The grand jury process involves the following steps:
- The prosecution presents evidence to the grand jury
- The defendant is not present at the grand jury hearing
- The grand jury votes whether to issue an indictment
- If an indictment is issued, the defendant is arraigned in court and the case proceeds to trial
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