When a legal case is said to be “waived to grand jury,” it means that the preliminary hearings, which usually involve determining whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, have been skipped. Instead, the case is sent directly to a grand jury for indictment.
The grand jury is a group of citizens tasked with reviewing evidence presented by the prosecution to decide if there is probable cause to charge someone with a crime. This process is generally seen in serious felony cases.
Waiving to grand jury can streamline the legal process, both for the prosecution and the defense. It may occur for various reasons, such as when both parties feel there is enough evidence for a grand jury to consider, or when the defendant wants a quicker resolution to the case. In other situations, it could be a strategic choice, influenced by legal advice from the defendant’s attorney.