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Pa. R.Crim.P. 226

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Rule 226 Charge to Investigating Grand Jury

Chapter 2: Investigations

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Rule Text

After the investigating grand jury is sworn, the court shall charge the grand jury in open court.

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

When people are selected to serve on an investigating grand jury in Pennsylvania, a judge must give them instructions before they start their work. This happens in open court, meaning it is not done in private.

These instructions are called a "charge." The judge uses this time to explain the grand jury's role, responsibilities, and how they should carry out their investigation. The grand jury receives this guidance right after its members are sworn in.

Committee Notes

The charge of the court to the grand jury should define the duties of the grand jurors. However, section (7)(c) of The Investigating Grand Jury Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § § 4541—4553, provides that: ‘‘The jurisdiction, powers and activities of an investigating grand jury shall not, of otherwise lawful, be limited in any way by the charge of the court.’’

Rule 258 adopted June 26, 1978, effective January 9, 1979; Comment revised October 22, 1981, effective January 1, 1982; renumbered Rule 226 and Comment revised March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1477 (March 18, 2000).

← Previous Rule 225: Administering Oath to Grand Jury and Foreman Next → Rule 227: Administering Oath to Witness