Is the grand jury made up of "We the people" or "lawyer types" ?

[Reciprocity]

By grand jury I mean the folks that Fitzgerald is presenting his case in front of.

[electropop]

1. We the peoples, I believe.

More or less like a regular jury.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Definitely "We the People" types.

[tk2kewl]

3. We the people, baby!

there is a thread around here somewhere from this AM about the makeup of the jury... i'll see if i can find it for you

on edit: this waPo article discusses the jurors a bit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/26/AR2005102600532_pf.html

[Reciprocity]

10. Great article thanks.

Some things that stood out to me.

Grand Jury Hears Summary of Case On CIA Leak Probe

<snip>
Should he need more time to finish the investigation, Fitzgerald could seek to empanel a new group of grand jurors to consider the case. But sources familiar with the prosecutor's work said he has indicated he is eager to avoid that route. The term of the current grand jury has been extended once and cannot be lengthened again, according to federal rules.

<snip>
The grand jury, a group of onetime strangers from across the District, has spent two days a week for nearly 24 months in the cloistered, guarded room on the third floor of the U.S. District Courthouse. They have sifted through the day planners of White House aides and listened intently as the prosecutor grilled West Wing officials and reporters who relied on them as confidential sources. They are paid $40 a day, plus $4 for transportation.

<snip>
There were 23 members at the start, committed for 18 months. Their term was extended in May for six months. At least six original jurors have been excused because of hardships their service created. Some were replaced with alternates.

Like the jury's forewoman, the majority are African American women who appear to be middle-age or older. The jury includes at least two black men, two older white women and three white men. One trim, agile retiree with white hair often entered the grand jury room with his bicycle helmet in hand.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/26/AR2005102600532_pf.html

(No matter what happens, we need to doff our hats to theses jurors who have not leaked anything to the press. The leaks have all been from the Bush side.)

[tk2kewl]

11. it seems that all the jurors, whether or not they remained

for the entire proceedings must have taken their job very seriously.

it's hard to imagine that they have not been pressed for information from outside sources somewhere along the line, but it seems that they have maintained the integrity of the process

[bmcatt]

4. Same pool as petit jurors

So, yes, it's "We, the people" in the grand jury.

[Demobrat]

5. This jury is made up of predominantly

older, African American females. There are 12 of them, I think. The rest are a mix of mostly retired people. They represent the demographics of DC very well.

[Reciprocity]

6. Thank you all.

I know I worry to much about is the deck stacked against us. Is it a forgone conclusion that if Fitzgerald has made the case with evidence that the law was broken can the jury made of Bush backer lawyer types overrule him.

[Debi]

7. Are you implying that lawyers aren't people?

x(

[madmark]

8. I didn't realize that being a "lawyer type" was mutually exclusive

from being "We the people". I didn't know I was giving that up when I got the license.

[Reciprocity]

9. I didn't mean it that way.

I was trying differentiate between lay people (we the people) and experts with whom make a living in the realm of law.

[LostinVA]

12. And, it's a DC jury, not a Maryland or NOVA one

Read: heavily Democratic.

[maxsolomon]

13. A grand jury would indict a ham sandwich

who could sit on a jury for that long? only retired people.

i personally think they're all "merlot democrats"! :sarcasm: