This page provides information for jurors who have received a Grand Jury Summons.
The Grand Jury hears evidence of matters within the jurisdiction of the Dutchess County District Attorney or the New York State Attorney General. The Grand Jury consists of twenty-three randomly-selected persons who are sworn to secrecy. At least sixteen must be present to conduct business, and at least twelve must agree to take action.
Generally, the Grand Jury meets Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for an eight week term. Additional sessions may be scheduled, and the term may be extended to finish business commenced during the term. A review of our attendance records indicates that a typical Grand Jury will have twenty-two sessions, of which six will be all day. Individual jurors may miss several sessions for personal reasons, but you should inform the District Attorney as soon as possible of any scheduled absences, so that the District Attorney may take this into consideration when scheduling the Grand Jury sessions.
Since Grand Jurors generally attend more than ten days, they are typically disqualified from further service in the State Courts for at least eight years.