The grand jury has been called a sword and shield for the people, but is it serving that purpose today? Two former prosecutors, Joel Cohen of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and Professor Bennett Gershman of Pace Law, debate whether today’s grand juries are bulwarks against the state and discuss how they could be reformed.

* * * * * *

As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Joel Cohen:
https://www.stroock.com/people/jcohen/

Learn more about Professor Bennett Gershman:
https://law.pace.edu/faculty/bennett-l-gershman

* * * * * *


Related links:

Reflecting on the Ferguson Grand Jury
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reflecting-on-the-ferguso_b_6249714

My Morning in the Grand Jury
https://www.stroock.com/news/my-morning-in-the-grand-jury/


Differing views:

Grand Juries And The Lack Of Transparency
https://agrlegalservices.com/grand-juries-and-the-lack-of-transparency/

Do We Need Grand Juries?
https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/18/opinion/do-we-need-grand-juries.html

Interactive Constitution: Grand Juries and the Fifth Amendment
https://constitutioncenter.orgblog/interactive-constitution-grand-juries-and-the-fifth-amendment

The Grand Jury Farce
https://reason.com/2010/12/30/the-grand-jury-farce/