Demystifying the Grand Jury

Resource person: Audra Bullard - office@clehighlands.com

Description:

The criminal justice system in the United States rightfully draws much public scrutiny but Americans are least familiar with what happens behind the closed doors of the grand jury. This constitutionally-mandated body—independent of any branch of government—has a storied history, dating back to the Magna Carta, and is utilized today in some form in all states and the federal courts. While considered a protection and check against unjust prosecutions, skeptics contend the grand jury is a tool of the prosecution. In this presentation, Judge Howell will discuss the history of the grand jury, its composition, charging and investigative functions, the different responsibilities of the court and prosecutor in the discharge of the grand jury’s duties, the rights of investigative targets, and the role of secrecy in the grand jury’s operation, with a peek into often vital, intense and timesensitive issues occurring before the grand jury.

Presenter: Judge Beryl A. Howell was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 2010 and served as the Chief Judge for seven years, until March 2023. She received her B.A., with honors in Philosophy, in 1978, from Bryn Mawr College and her J.D., in 1983, from Columbia University School of Law, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Judge Howell has worked in private practice, the legal academy and in all three branches of the federal government. After serving as a law clerk in the District of New Jersey, she was a litigation associate at Schulte, Roth & Zabel. She then served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Section in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York, followed by working on the staff and as general counsel of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Thereafter, she served two terms as a Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission and, for part of the same time, also worked as executive managing director and general counsel of a cybersecurity and digital forensics consulting firm. Judge Howell has served as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States and previously served as a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Information Technology and currently is a member of the Committee on Criminal Law.

Notes: Cancellation Policy Please let us know immediately if you are unable to attend a class. There is no refund for cancellations within two (2) weeks prior to a scheduled class. Programs that include food, beverage or art materials must be canceled within three (3) weeks prior to receive a refund. CLE reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment has not been met or for circumstances beyond our control, and participants will be notified, a complete refund will be issued. All classes are held in the CLE Lecture Hall at the Peggy Crosby Center unless otherwise noted. In the event information has changed from the published brochure, it will be posted on our website and in our e-blasts. Addresses for “private home” venues will be provided to registrants within 2 days of the program date.

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