The Grand Jury system outmoded by social media

by Sam Bauman

The grand jury system, much in the news of late, has  become rendered biased now by the flow of comments of social media. The grand jury court is used on in the United States these days and holds to the formula of 12 to 24 random citizens sitting in privacy to weight indictments brought to it usually by a prosecuting attorney.

Unlike a regular trial jury of 12, where the members of the panel appear in open court, grand juries convene in secrecy and listen to presentations by legal authorities. The members are not sequestered and are able to view all information about the indictment they may or may not return. Since all is done behind closed doors, there is plenty of room for prosecutors to strongly influence the panels.

With social media presenting political and legal views from all sides, the grand jury panel is open to influence from the social media --- Youtube and so forth. 

This is not possible in regular jury trials as jurors are ordered not to read about the trial they are involved  in.

So clearly, the Internet and all the social media systems can influence grand jurors. Even daily newspapers can bend a grand jury's decisions as well as TV and radio.

Clearly, since only the United States retains the grand jury system, it's time to abolish it and let prosecutors such as attorneys general make the decision along with judges about indictments.

Clearly, large numbers of Americasns are not satisfied with some recent grand jury decisions in New York and Ferguson. Too late to do anything about those grand juries now, but it clearly is time to turn the indictment process back to the legal professionals.