U.S vs. Williams, the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

[Destry]

In the 1992 case, U.S vs. Williams, the U.S. Supreme Court said, “In fact the whole theory of its function is that it belongs to no branch of the institutional government, serving as a kind of buffer or referee between the Government and the people.”

They also said, “Because the grand jury is an institution separate from the courts, over whose functioning the courts do not preside, we think it clear that, as a general matter at least, no such “supervisory” judicial authority exists.”

In addition, they said, “…we have insisted that the grand jury remain free to pursue its investigations unhindered by external influence or supervision so long as it does not trench upon the legitimate rights of any witness called before it.”