Grand Juries

And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgment of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
--The Who

Well footnoted review of grand juries penned in 2003. The argument is that grand juries have evolved from an institution designed to screen legal cases and protect the right of the individual to an instrument of power for prosecutorial government.

Modern grand juries can be seen as a facade behind which agendas of government can be pursued at the expense of constitutional rights of citizens. In particular, operations of modern grand juries violate Fourth Amendment rights to protection of person and property against unreasonable search and seizure, and Fifth Amendment rights that respect due process and prohibit compulsory self-incrimination.

Political power clearly grows at the expense of social power under this arrangement.