§3331 Summoning and Term

Summary

If a federal district has more than 4,000,000 people, or if the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, or a designated Assistant Attorney General writes to the district’s chief judge saying a special grand jury is needed because of criminal activity, the court must call a special grand jury at least once every 18 months unless one is already serving. A special grand jury serves for 18 months unless the court ends it sooner after a majority of jurors say their work is done. The court can extend the term 6 months at a time if the work isn’t finished, but a term cannot go past 36 months except as allowed under subsection (e) of section 3333. If a district court discharges a special grand jury or refuses to extend it before the jury says it has finished, a majority of that grand jury can ask the chief judge of the circuit to continue the term. Once the jury applies, its term continues until the circuit chief judge issues an order. Such extensions also cannot go past 36 months except as allowed under subsection (e) of section 3333.