Whats the difference between a petit jury and a grand jury?
A grand jury is a group of seven citizens convened for the purpose of determining whether there is sufficient evidence for a person who is accused of a crime to be brought to trialas opposed to the county attorney filing a criminal charge. The grand jury shall meet at times specified by order of a district court judge, at the request of the county attorney or at the request of the majority of the grand jurors. The county attorney is responsible for presenting evidence to the grand jury. Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public. A petit jury acts as the fact finder when a party in a civil case or a defendant in a criminal case has requested a jury. In criminal trials, 12 jurors sit on the jury; in civil trials, 8 jurors comprise the jury. If a jury has not been requested, the judge acts as the fact finder.
