Yes, Let’s Talk About Kermit Gosnell

[rug]

21. That's certainly true. The difference here is that it's an investigating Grand Jury.

Since Pennsylvania replaced Grand Juries for criminal offenses with preliminary hearings, its function is now primarily investigative. It recommends that the DA file a Criminal Information rather than indict itself.

When I worked for Legal Aid in NYC we developed a modest Grand Jury practice. In appropriate cases we'd tell the Defendant to testify there. We had a fair number of No True Bills. My favorite was this old man who was fighting with his landlord. He got mad one day and slipped the rent bill under the office door and lit the end that was sticking out. They arrested him for Arson! He testified and in the middle pulled out his vial of blood pressure pills and said the landlord was going to give him a heart attack. The DA started to yell at him to put the pills away and the old man was yelling back at him. It was spectacular. This particular Grand Jury was able to put the whole matter in perspective and declined to indict.