Rule 6.3 Oath of Witnesses

Anyone who testifies before a grand jury must first take a specific oath. This oath has two parts. First, the witness promises to tell the complete truth, and they can be charged with perjury if they lie. Second, the witness promises to keep their testimony secret.

The secrecy part means the witness cannot talk about what they said in the grand jury room with just anyone. They can only discuss their testimony with their own attorney or with the prosecutor handling the case. This rule stays in place until the grand jury either issues an indictment (formal charges) or releases a report.

This oath protects the grand jury process. Keeping testimony private helps prevent witnesses from coordinating their stories or facing pressure from other people involved in the case. It also protects the reputation of anyone being investigated, since the grand jury may decide not to bring charges at all.