Court Empanels New Grand Juries
The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court has impaneled three new grand juries. A grand jury consists of 14 citizens selected from the public. Each of the three panels meet twice a week for four months, on different days and times.
A Judge from the Common Pleas Court can appoint a foreperson for their grand jury or select one from the jury pool. For this session, Judge William McGinty’s grand jury selected Candace Burns of Solon as the foreperson. Judge Sherrie Miday’s foreperson is Donna Ross, director of the MyTrack program at Padua Franciscan High School. Judge John O’Donnell selected Jon Medlock, an industrial hygienist from Strongsville. The current grand juries will meet through the end of August.
During these proceedings, which are not open to the public by law, only the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office presents witnesses and evidence. The grand jury then decides if probable cause exists that a felony has been committed. If so, an indictment is returned and filed with the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts, commencing formal criminal proceedings against the defendant.
Administrative and Presiding Judge Brendan Sheehan expressed his gratitude to the members of the outgoing grand juries for their diligence and dedication to the justice system.