Other Criminal Matters

Grand jury investigations are an arm of the government’s investigation authority before charges are issued. We represent individuals called to testify as witnesses in grand jury investigations in state cases throughout Michigan and in federal cases nationwide. 

The federal government must take cases to the grand jury before issuing an indictment unless the defendant waives the right for the case to be reviewed by a grand jury. Sometimes federal cases start with a felony complaint or felony information rather than an indictment. Still, the prosecutor must take the case to a grand jury within a certain amount of time unless the defendant waives the right for a grand jury to hear the case. Grand jury proceedings are secret, and neither the prosecutor nor the members of the grand jury may disclose the names of any grand jury witnesses or the contents of their testimony unless the case later goes to trial and the person is called as a trial witness. Often, federal prosecutors will call witnesses to a grand jury who may be facing the possibility of criminal charges themselves. Hiring an experienced federal criminal defense attorney can be crucial to ensure adequate protections for the person testifying.

In Michigan state courts, a prosecutor can also use a grand jury to investigate charges, although it is less common than in the federal system. Our grand jury attorneys assist witnesses called to the grand jury to ensure they do not inadvertently incriminate themselves.