Derechos del gran jurado para citar testigos

Explicación Simple

Cuando un gran jurado necesita escuchar a testigos, el secretario del tribunal les ayuda a citarlos. Pero, después de que el jurado decide si hay cargos, no pueden citar a testigos que ayuden a la persona acusada sin un permiso especial de un juez.

Es como si un grupo de amigos estuviera organizando un partido de fútbol. Pueden invitar a algunos jugadores, pero después de que deciden quién ganó, no pueden invitar a los jugadores del otro equipo a jugar sin preguntar primero al entrenador.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que un gran jurado está investigando a Juan por robo. El secretario del tribunal puede citar a testigos para que hablen sobre lo que vieron. Pero si el jurado decide que Juan debe ser acusado, no pueden llamar a testigos que hablen a favor de él sin primero pedir permiso a un juez.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

540.160 - Grand jury entitled to process — exception. 540.160. Grand jury entitled to process — exception. — Whenever thereto required by any grand jury, or the foreperson thereof, or by the prosecuting or circuit attorney, the clerk of the court in which such jury is impaneled shall issue subpoenas and other process to bring witnesses to testify before such grand jury. After the finding and returning of any indictment by the grand jury, such foreperson, prosecuting or circuit attorney, or jury, shall not have the right to cause any subpoena or other process to be issued for any person who is known or believed by such foreperson, prosecuting or circuit attorney or jury to be a witness in behalf of the person or persons so indicted, or who has been subpoenaed as a witness in behalf of such person or persons, or who such foreperson, prosecuting or circuit attorney or jury may have reason to believe will be summoned as a witness in behalf of such person or persons, in regard to the matter or matters charged against such person or persons in such indictment, except upon the written order of the judge of the court into which such indictment is returned. (RSMo 1939 § 3914, A.L. 1989 S.B. 127, et al.) Prior revisions: 1929 § 3525; 1919 § 3870; 1909 § 5078 (1953) Subpoena issued by court at request of prosecuting attorney, requiring production of records before grand jury and returnable at time grand jury was not in session and at time when matters affected by such records were not