Opinion ID: 2387754
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: secrecy and the grand jury

Text: Secrecy is the lifeblood of the grand jury. The Supreme Court said in Douglas Oil Co. v. Petrol Stops Northwest, 441 U.S. 211, 218-219, 99 S.Ct. 1667, 1672-1673, 60 L.Ed.2d 156 (1979) (footnotes and citation omitted): We consistently have recognized that the proper functioning of our grand jury system depends upon the secrecy of grand jury proceedings. In particular, we have noted several distinct interests served by safe guarding the confidentiality of grand jury proceedings. First, if preindictment proceedings were made public, many prospective witnesses would be hesitant to come forward voluntarily, knowing that those against whom they testify would be aware of that testimony. Moreover, witnesses who appeared before the grand jury would be less likely to testify fully and frankly, as they would be open to retribution as well as to inducements. There also would be the risk that those about to be indicted would flee, or would try to influence individual grand jurors to vote against indictment. Finally, by preserving the secrecy of the proceedings, we assure that persons who are accused but exonerated by the grand jury will not be held up to public ridicule. Grand jury secrecy, then, the Court pointed out in United States v. Sells Engineering Inc., 463 U.S. 418, 424-425, 103 S.Ct. 3133, 3138-3139, 77 L.Ed.2d 743 (1983), quoting United States v. Johnson, 319 U.S. 503, 513, 63 S.Ct. 1233, 1238, 87 L.Ed. 1546 (1943), is `as important for the protection of the innocent as for the pursuit of the guilty.' This Court stated in Coblentz v. State, 164 Md. at 566-567, 166 A. 45, that it is an inflexible requirement that [the grand jury's] investigations shall be carried on secretly and free from outside interference or influence; and great care is taken that they shall be so carried on. In response to a Motion for Reconsideration in Jones v. State, 297 Md. 7, 23, 464 A.2d 977 (1983) (citations omitted), we made clear that [t]he rule of secrecy surrounding grand jury proceedings is a product of the common law and is designed to protect the jury from outside interference or pressure[.] We noted that the secrecy rule is not designed for the protection of witnesses, but for that of grand jurors and in furtherance of public justice. Id. And, we added, nor does the witness have a privilege of having his testimony treated as a confidential communication. Id. The Court in Coblentz explained that [t]he purposes of [the secrecy rule] are many. 164 Md. at 567, 166 A. 45. Freedom of inquiry is to be preserved, and at the same time individuals whose conduct may be investigated, but against whom no indictment may be found, are to be protected from disrepute, and all individuals are to be protected from one-sided presentations of unfavorable evidence, without opportunity to reply, before any one present unnecessarily. Id. There is a statutory prescription that [a]ll persons who have been selected for grand jury service in the circuit court of any county in the State shall take an oath of secrecy. Md.Code (1973, 1984 Repl.Vol.), § 8-213(a) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article. And the legislature has declared: A grand juror, except when lawfully required by a court, may not willfully disclose (1) any evidence adduced before the grand jury, or (2) anything which he himself or any member of the grand jury said, or in what manner he or any other grand juror voted, regarding any matter before the grand jury. Id. § 8-213(b). A stenographer appointed to take and transcribe the testimony given before the grand jury for the exclusive use and benefit of the grand jury and the State's Attorney for the county, unless otherwise ordered by the court, id. § 2-503(a), shall take and subscribe an oath that he will keep secret all matters and things occurring before the grand jury, id. § 2-503(b)(1). [7] In Coblentz, 164 Md. at 567, 166 A. 45, the Court said that secrecy is inherent in the grand jury system with all the force of a statutory enactment. Id., quoting United States v. Edgerton, 80 F. 374, 375 (D.C.Mont. 1897). And it noted that secrecy is found embodied in the familiar grand jury oath that the members sworn shall keep secret the counsel of the state, their fellows, and their own, and shall not present any one for envy, hatred, or malice, nor leave anyone unpresented for fear, favor, or affection, or hope of reward. 164 Md. at 567, 166 A. 45. The Court deemed the rule of secrecy to be not merely a remedial one, that injury shown to have been sustained by the accused in a particular case shall be remedied, but also a preventive one, which interposes in advance for private benefit and public benefit as well. Id. The Court was aware that [d]iscriminations between degrees of departure from [the rule] are difficult to manage.... Id. The Court concluded that unless the bar is maintained in all cases, it can hardly have any effective existence. Therefore, the law must act upon the existence of opportunity, rather than await proof of abuse.... Id. See In Re Special Investigation No. 236, 295 Md. at 582, 458 A.2d 75.