Art. 19A.151 ANY PERSON MAY CHALLENGE

Before a grand jury officially starts its work, anyone has the right to raise objections about it. Someone can challenge the whole group of potential grand jurors, or they can challenge one specific person who has been picked to serve. This is the only way the court will listen to complaints about whether the grand jury is put together correctly or meets legal requirements. Once the grand jury is impaneled, this window to object closes.

The rule also protects people who are sitting in the county jail. If someone in jail wants to raise this kind of challenge, the court has to bring them in to make their objection in person. Their confinement does not stop them from having a say in whether the grand jury was formed properly.