Most courts have rules that prohibit disclosure of grand jury proceedings. The rules typically apply to the government attorneys, the grand jury members, and the court personnel. Violators of the rules can be held in contempt of court if a case against them is proven. However, proving that the leaked information came out of the grand jury proceeding and identifying exactly who made the prohibited disclosure is difficult in most cases.
Another challenge to keeping the proceedings secret arises because the prohibition against disclosure often does not apply to a person subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury. Witnesses are free to discuss their testimony with the media or with anyone else, unless the judge expressly orders them not to.
Persons who are the subject of a grand jury proceeding are not entitled to any notice regarding the scope of the investigation or the nature of the incidents under consideration. They are generally not allowed to have an attorney present with them in the grand jury room, but may be permitted to leave from time to time to consult with an attorney outside the grand jury room.
James E. Short, PLC
652 Independence Parkway Suite 120 Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
Phone: (757) 410-5042 VirginiaDUIHotline@gmail.com
The information on this site is not intended to be used as personal legal counsel, nor is to be used as a substitution for legal representation. We recommend that you consult a licensed attorney in order to address your litigation needs.
The James E. Short, PLC office is located in Chesapeake, Virginia, and represents people living or driving in Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Arlington, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Lynchburg, Norfolk, Petersburg, Richmond, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach, and all outlying areas. The James E. Short, PLC also represents clients from Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton, Isle of Wight counties and clients from any state, who were charged with criminal charges in Virginia.
