The United States judicial system is seriously flawed.

Resolved, that the criminal justice system is in a shambles. It is in need of dismantling; and the grand jury system is the most democratic of all our institutions I affirm the values of good government, truth, fairness and justice. The criteria for a good democratic institution are that it: provides that everyone have a voice in government. provides a check on the abuse of power. does not require expertise; requires one to learn about government and its functioning; does not place an undue burden on the citizen who participates; provides an educating experience; teaches good citizenship; provides opportunities for teamwork, discussion and debate; and is fair and democratic. I was being questioned by a judge for jury duty. Have you ever been on a jury? Yes, a grand jury. Oops. I can feel it. My mind went back a thousand years. Most people have little idea what a grand jury does, and that is a shame. They don't even want to be on one, and that is a bigger shame. A king, probably John Ashcroft or Dick Cheney, said to himself, "My citizens are probably committing crimes I know nothing about. I must form citizen's committees to inform on their neighbors." Block Watch. Homeland Security. And so the Grand Jury was born. Found only in Anglo law. But citizens had a little more on the ball than we do today, and when the dust had cleared the grand jury was a "sword and a shield" No one can be charged with a serious crime unless the grand jury first passes on it. Grand juries meet outside of court and go into court only in private session with the judge to present indictments. This is such a power that it has been diluted by other powers but the jury system is the only shot ordinary people have a chance to participate in government. Except I guess the military but that's not the same. While a petite (we pronounce it "petty") juror can be dismissed for blowing their nose, a grand juror cannot. Out of a pool of perhaps a hundred, seventeen people are chosen; the number varies. The rest go home. The grand jury takes the oath. "You and each of you do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that you will diligently inquire into and true presentment make of all such matters and things as shall be given you in charge, or shall otherwise come to your knowledge, touching the present service; you shall present no person through malice, hatred or ill-will; nor shall you leave any unpresented through fear, favor, affection, or for any fee or reward, or for any hope or promise thereof; but in all of your presentments, you shall present the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, according to the best of your skill and understanding; so help you God." That pretty much covers it. Congress should take such an oath. This oath is virtually unchanged from antiquity. One can imagine those who have taken it for a thousand years, and what stories they could tell. There are federal, state and county grand juries. The Constitution guaranteed that no one can be charged with a crime unless indicted by a grand jury. Secrecy varies from absolute to press conferences. Each case is presented to the grand jury by the prosecuting attorney. Unlike petite juries, which operate by consensus, grand juries use majority rules. The grand jury can request more evidence, and the prosecutor has to provide it, even a tour of the crime scene if the grand jury wants. If the grand jury doesn't get what it asked for there is no deal. The prosecutor presents his case, with witnesses. Then the grand jury meets and decides what charges to bring and to whom and those are the charges that are brought. Balance of power operates here. Grand juries are part of the judicial system, but the role of the judiciary is limited to an advisory capacity. The prosecutor is of course admin. The executive is involved as law enforcement, and they testify. Mobsters being interviewed by the President's Comission on Organized Crime were pretty emphatic. Organized crime cannot exist without corrupt cops, politicians and judges. Well I am here to tell you that organized crime does exist. You do the math. We need grand juries to protect us from organized crime.