Judges and grand juries are increasingly losing confidence in the Justice Department. Concerns have grown as the department, under President Trump, appears to support allies while targeting opponents.
Recent examples of grand jury misconduct add to numerous cases where department prosecutors have not secured indictments. This marks a shift that challenges the perception of a once-reliable system.
Grand juries represent a critical component of the justice system, offering prosecutors substantial power to bring charges. However, during the past months, the Justice Department has struggled. Prosecutors have failed to convince jurors to indict in cases where charges seemed warranted.
Complicating matters further, federal judges have accused prosecutors of misconduct at least three times since the previous November. This marks a worrying pattern that undermines trust in the legal process.
In Chicago, a judge recently dismissed charges against four Democratic activists. They had been charged with obstructing the police during a protest. Judge April M. Perry cited a list of grand jury errors in her decision. She addressed the breach of protocol by noting that discussions occurred outside the jury room. Additionally, improper coaching implied that the evidence was stronger than it was, violating fair process.
More disturbing was that prosecutors manipulated the jury composition. They removed jurors who had disagreed with earlier charges. Hiding these actions through redacted transcripts compounded the misconduct. Judge Perry demanded full access to the transcripts, uncovering these issues.