Quote:
Originally Posted by Seashore
I have received a short reply from JB Williams.
The reply actually was only an URL which links to a blogtalkradio show:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/american-grand-jury
If you click on the:
Profile
American Grand Jury
http://americangrandjury.org/
It takes you to the profile, which shows that the subject of this story, Commander Fitzpatrick, is a guest on the radio show. Also, there is written text about the status of this Grand Jury hearing. |
I have been doing some reading on the American Grand Jury website.
There is a
page about Grand Jury Evidence, Rules, Indictments.
I am struck by the section about Indictments:
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Indictments
In the common law legal system, an indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a criminal offense.
Traditionally an indictment was handed up by a grand jury, which returned a “true bill” if it found cause to make the charge, or “no bill” if it did not find cause. Most common law jurisdictions (EXCEPT for much of the United States) have abolished grand juries.
That previous statment applies to places like Canada, Australia, England, etc. The United States is the last bastion where prescribed law uses the Grand Jury system.
Why is the United States the only Nation as such that uses the Grand Jury system? It is very easy to answer. It is because we are a Free Nation and the Bill of Rights 5th Amendment under the Constitution protects us as follows:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury…
We have the right in this country to be judged by a jury of our peers and we cannot be charged with a major criminal offense UNLESS a jury of our peers hands down “presentments” or an indictment against us. The 5th Amendment is incredibily powerful. It is also the reason we need to use it before we lose it. Already the Grand Jury system in the United States is considered by many the “puppet” of the Court Prosecutor. But the truth of the matter is that the Constitution makes it perfectly clear that it is NOT. The Grand Jury trumps the Prosecutor with the ultimate law of the land. The Grand Jury is truly the Fourth Branch of the Government.
Our Founding Fathers were pretty smart, weren’t they?
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This website seems to be saying that citizens
can organize Grand Juries. I've never heard of this before and I will continue to research this.
Does anyone know anything about a grassroots, citizen-originated Grand Jury and how that would work?