Announcing: Political Activists & Grand Juries

21 de noviembre de 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.¿Qué es un gran jurado?* Lo básico.

Este manual se aplica a jurados federales. Algunos estados también utilizan sistemas de jurados, que funcionan de manera similar pero pueden tener reglas y procedimientos diferentes.

Los grandes jurados son cuerpos de investigación destinados originalmente a proteger al público de fiscales celosos y no responsables, al hacer que un grupo de ciudadanos seleccionados al azar investigue delitos y determine si existe una “causa probable” suficiente para procesar (“acusar formalmente”) a alguien por un delito grave.

Sin embargo, debido a su secretismo y al poder que otorgan al gobierno para obligar o forzar testimonios, se han utilizado como herramientas para atacar y reprimir movimientos de resistencia política, también conocidos como “cazas de brujas”.”

¡Visita nuestra página de Grandes Jurados para obtener el recurso completo!

 

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