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Announcing: Political Activists & Grand Juries

November 21, 2025

Flowchart titled 'SUBPOENA' showing the grand jury subpoena process. The flow begins with receiving a subpoena, with options to request additional time, contact counsel, or file motions. The path leads to an appearance date, then either 'NO SHOW' (which leads to 'YOU MAY BE ARRESTED') or proceeding to the grand jury room. A vertical bar on the left indicates 'NO IMMUNITY OFFERED' throughout most of the process. From the grand jury room, the flow shows 'INVOKE 5TH' (with asterisk) as an option, leading to being brought before a judge. At this point, judicial immunity may be offered, and the process continues to another 'INVOKE 5TH' decision point. This can lead to either being jailed for civil contempt (may be held until grand jury expires) or, after release, to bail, other motions, and appeals. Alternative paths from the top include 'AGREE TO TESTIFY' (in pink) and prosecutor/letter immunity options. The flowchart ends with 'FREE TO GO!' (with double asterisk). Two footnotes explain: asterisk indicates to consider asserting other applicable rights and privileges when invoking the Fifth; double asterisk notes release from refusal to confer immunity may indicate being a potential prosecution target. Bottom disclaimer states this is not legal advice and to speak with an attorney. Civil Liberties Defense Center logo appears in bottom right corner.What is a grand jury?* The basics.

*This primer applies to federal grand juries. Some states also use grand jury systems, which operate similarly but may have different rules and procedures.

Grand juries are investigative bodies that were originally intended to protect the public from overzealous and unaccountable prosecutors by having a group of randomly selected citizens investigate crimes and determine whether there is enough “probable cause” to prosecute (“indict”) someone for a felony crime.

However, because of their secrecy and the power they give to the government to compel or force testimony, they have been used as tools to target and suppress political resistance movements, aka “witch hunts.”

Check out our Grand Juries Page for the full resource!

 

Printable Version

Grand Juries Tri-Fold - Printable

 

Readable Version

Grand Juries Tri-Fold - Readable

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