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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow § 39.: Indictment by grand jury or by information.— - A Treatise on State and Federal Control of Persons and Property in the United States considered from both a Civil and Criminal Standpoint, vol. 1

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Subject Area: Law
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

§ 39.: Indictment by grand jury or by information.— - Christopher G. Tiedeman, A Treatise on State and Federal Control of Persons and Property in the United States considered from both a Civil and Criminal Standpoint, vol. 1 [1900]

Edition used:

A Treatise on State and Federal Control of Persons and Property in the United States considered from both a Civil and Criminal Standpoint (St. Louis: The F.H. Thomas Law Book Co., 1900). Vol. 1.

Part of: A Treatise on State and Federal Control of Persons and Property in the United States considered from both a Civil and Criminal Standpoint, 2 vols.

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§ 39.

Indictment by grand jury or by information.—

The prevailing criminal procedure, throughout the United States, with perhaps a few exceptions, provides in cases of felony for accusations to be made by an indictment by a grand jury.2 But these are matters of criminal procedure that are subject to constant change by the legislature, and it cannot be doubted that no constitutional limitation would be violated, if the grand jury system were abolished.3 So, also, the form of the indictment may be very minutely regulated by statute, without infringing any constitutional provision.4

[2]In some of the States all accusations are now made by information filed by the prosecuting attorney, and probably in all of the States prosecutions for minor misdemeanors are begun by information.

[3]Kallock v. Superior Court, 56 Cal, 229. State v. Sureties of Krohne (Wyo.), 34 P. 3; In re Boulter (Wyo.), 40 P. 520; State v. Bates (Utah), 47 P. 78; State v. Carrington (Utah), 50 P. 526; Hurtado v. People of California, 110 U. S. 516; McNulty v. People of California, 149 U. S. 645; Vincent v. People of California, 149 U. S. 648. But the United States Constitution requires indictment by grand jury in those cases in which it was required at common law. See United States Const., Amend., art. V.; Eilenbecker v. Dist. Court, 134 U. S. 31.

[4]In re Krug, 79 Fed. 308.