Opinion ID: 2065993
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Grand Jury Costs

Text: Lopez-Solis was originally charged by complaint with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree felony murder. The original charges were dismissed and the grand jury's substituted indictment included a count of first-degree intentional murder. The jury acquitted Lopez-Solis on the first-degree intentional murder charge, the only charge the state was required to present to the grand jury. See Minn. R.Crim. P. 17.01. The trial court awarded the state the costs of having a court reporter attend and transcribe the grand jury proceeding, produce transcripts after the proceeding, and for the presentation of photographic evidence to the grand jury. In addition, the trial court awarded costs for witness travel in connection with grand jury testimony and reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the assistant attorneys general who helped Rice County present the case to the grand jury. The state argues that grand jury proceedings are analogous to discovery in a civil case and thus are recoverable under the criminal prosecution costs statute. The procedures that govern grand jury proceedings are enumerated in our rules of criminal procedure. See Minn. R.Crim. P. 18.01-.09. We have explained the extraordinary nature of these proceedings: The grand jury system is deeply embedded in the criminal law in this state. The Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution and the laws of Minnesota contain provisions requiring grand jury indictments in the more serious cases. A grand jury proceeding has long been held to be basic to the rights of an accused. State v. Thompson, 273 Minn. 1, 14, 139 N.W.2d 490, 501 (1966). The only person authorized to convene a grand jury inquiry is the county attorney. See Minn. R.Crim. P. 18.01. Only the attorneys for the state, the grand jury members, court reporters, and qualified interpreters for witnesses handicapped in communication are permitted to attend grand jury proceedings. See Minn. R.Crim. P. 18.04. In limited circumstances, police officers and attorneys for a witness may be permitted to attend. See id. The deliberations and votes of grand jurors are secret and may not be disclosed. See Minn. R.Crim. P. 18.08. At first glance, grand jury proceedings may be seen as analogous to discovery in a civil case. In both settings, facts are uncovered which may be used at trial. The grand jury system is, however, a creature of the criminal justice system. See Thompson, 273 Minn. at 14, 139 N.W.2d at 501. No mechanism with such broad power is available to litigants in a civil case. Moreover, grand jury proceedings are not enumerated as a recoverable cost in the prosecution costs statute. See Minn.Stat. § 631.48. Because grand jury costs are not enumerated in the prosecution costs statute and because the proceedings do not have an analog in the civil setting, the trial court's award of $2,144.27 for grand jury costs is reversed.