What is the difference between the 'grand jury' and the 'petit jury'?
We have grand juries as the first line of the defense we talk about grand juries and petit juries. They are two separate lines of defense for private citizens. The government must first present it's case for a grand jury. If the grand jury decide there maybe a reason to take some one to trial, it looks like there is enough evidence to take them to trial they will indict. If the grand jury doesn't like the law that's been presented under which the person being indicted, if they don't think enough evidence to take it a trial the grand jury can return no bill. The petit jury on the other hand is next level of defense for individuals and that's when someone has already been indicted, so there is sufficient evidence, and they're brought to trial where they have the opportunity then, which they don't always have the opportunity in front of a grand jury. The defendant who remember is always presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, gets to stand up and tell the defendant's side of the story, even while the prosecutor is giving the government's side of the story. That happens before the petite jury of twelve people.
