The grand jury system in Texas undermines the ability of the grand jury to function as an independent body, making it ripe for abuse and inconsistent outcomes. The grand jury was designed as a safeguard against unfounded prosecution, but the state now wields a significant amount of power in a legal body originally intended to serve as a check on the government. Texas should implement reforms to right-size state power in the grand jury system without impairing the government’s ability to prosecute criminal activity.
Commentary