Missouri Constitution

Article I
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 16

August 28, 2007



Grand juries--composition--jurisdiction to convene--powers.

Section 16. That a grand jury shall consist of twelve citizens, any nine of whom concurring may find an indictment or a true bill: Provided, that no grand jury shall be convened except upon an order of a judge of a court having the power to try and determine felonies; but when so assembled such grand jury shall have power to investigate and return indictments for all character and grades of crime; and that the power of grand juries to inquire into the willful misconduct in office of public officers, and to find indictments in connection therewith, shall never be suspended.

Source: Const. of 1875, Art. II, § 28 (as amended Nov. 6, 1900).

(1977) Grand jury cannot report its findings after investigation of a named public official except by indictment. If no indictment is found, an interim "report" should be expunged from the record. Matter of Interim Report of Grand Jury (Mo.), 553 S.W.2d 479.


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