Primary source materials like statutes, court rules, and caselaw should also be consulted; see the PA Law guides for how to access primary source materials.
"A grand jury is a body of men and women selected and summoned to serve before a competent court and charged to inquire with regard to crimes committed within its jurisdiction and to present all offenders against the law. The grand jury has an ancient role in determining if there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and a related responsibility of protecting citizens against unfounded criminal prosecutions. It is an inquisitorial and accusatorial, rather than a trial, body." 38A C.J.S. Grand Juries § 1 (2021).
The resources below include information about grand jury practice in Pennsylvania.
The following member database includes information about grand jury practice in Pennsylvania. Members must be logged in to jenkinslaw.org to access this database. This database is also available in the library.
Pennsylvania Law Encyclopedia
Available on the LexisNexis Digital Library. See "Courts", Chapter 10: Grand Jury (vol. 15).
Also on the library's Lexis computers and in print.
The following print resources include information related to grand jury practice in Pennsylvania. Some resources published by LexisNexis and West/Thomson Reuters may be available on the library's Lexis and Westlaw computers. See below for more information.
Pennsylvania Criminal Practice West/Thomson Reuters
Also on the library's Westlaw computers.
See Chapter 15: Investigating Grand Jury; Indicting Grand Jury. Library also has previous edition: see all.
Pennsylvania Law Encyclopedia LexisNexis
Also on the library's Lexis computers and the LexisNexis Digital Library.
See "Courts", Chapter 10: Grand Jury. Library also has previous edition: see all.
Standard Pennsylvania Practice 2d West/Thomson Reuters
Also on the library's Westlaw computers.
See Chapter 133: Investigating Grand Juries and Informations. Library also has previous edition: see all.
In conjunction with its continuing legal education courses, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) produces books related to grand jury practice in Pennsylvania. When a researcher has difficulty finding an answer in the manuals or form books, it is a good idea to turn to a PBI publication for guidance.
Criminal Law Symposium 2019
See Chapter EE: Investigating Grand Jury Practice.
Understanding Pennsylvania Grand Jury Practice
Includes forms.
Court rules may outline the procedures surrounding grand jury practice. The following rules focus on grand jury practice in Pennsylvania. Please note that additional rules may also apply.
Criminal Rules:
For additional places to find Pennsylvania Court Rules, including in print and on the library's Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law computers, see the Pennsylvania Court Rules - State guide.