Grand Jury

Grand Jury is an ex-parte hearing in which county residents are presented evidence from prosecutors and witnesses, then vote in secret on whether enough evidence exists to charge a person with a crime. If enough evidence exists, the Grand Jury hands down a True Bill of Indictment. If the state fails to meet the burden of evidence, the Grand Jury issues a No Bill.

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-6-3(19), Fayette County has two terms of court: March/September. Your service will span from the second Monday of March to the second Monday of September or vice versa. You will be notified by summons for your first appearance. Any follow-up will be by order of the court. Typically, the Grand Jury meets for one day each month. Out of all jurors summoned, 23 will be qualified by the court, along with 3 alternates.

Only the legally accepted reason will be allowed for excusal from Grand Jury. You must complete and have notarized the Affidavit for Exemption which is located on the back side of your summons. Documentation must also be provided with the affidavit.

§ 15-12-60. Qualifications of Grand Jurors; impact of ineligibility

(a) Any citizen of this state 18 years of age or older who has resided in the county for at least six months preceding the time of service shall be eligible and liable to serve as a grand juror.

(b) Any person who holds any elective office in state or local government or who has held any such office within a period of two years preceding the time of service as a grand juror shall not be eligible to serve as a grand juror.

(c) The following individuals shall not be eligible to serve as a grand juror:

(1) Any individual who has been convicted of a felony in a state or federal court who has not had his or her civil rights restored;

(2) Any individual who has been judicially determined to be mentally incompetent;

(3) Any individual charged with a felony offense and who is in a pretrial release program, a pretrial release and diversion program, or a pretrial intervention and diversion program, as provided for in Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 or Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 or pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 27, a similar diversion program from another state, or a similar federal court diversion program for a felony offense;

(4) Any individual sentenced for a felony offense pursuant to Code Section 16-13-2 who has not completed the terms of his or her sentence;

(5) Any individual serving a sentence for a felony offense pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 or serving a first offender sentence for a felony offense pursuant to another state's law; and

(6) Any individual who is participating in a drug court division, mental health court division, veterans court division, a similar court program from another state, or a similar federal court program for a felony offense.

(d) If an indictment is returned, and a grand juror was ineligible to serve as a grand juror pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section, such indictment shall not be quashed solely as a result of such ineligibility.

All other persons may be considered for qualification as eligible jurors.

Any citizen whose name is placed on the jury list(s) of the county is eligible for service upon being randomly selected by the electronic, computer-based jury selection system of the Clerk of Superior Court, State and Probate Court.