Opinion ID: 2379771
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: denial of examining trial

Text: The appellants alleged prejudicial error in that they were denied a preliminary hearing and thereby were deprived of the right to discover certain evidence. The evidence in this case was submitted directly to a grand jury and no examining trial was  held. An examining trial is not designed as a discovery procedure for an accused but rather as a protection to prevent his detention in the event that probable cause is not shown. We have frequently held that when an indictment results from direct submission of evidence to a grand jury there is no cause for or right to an examining trial and the failure to conduct an examining trial is not erroneous. Jenkins v. Commonwealth, Ky., 477 S.W.2d 795 (decided March 3, 1972); Commonwealth v. Watkins, Ky., 398 S.W.2d 698 (1966) and Maggard v. Commonwealth, Ky., 394 S.W.2d 893 (1965). The appellants also claimed error in that they were not permitted to appear as witnesses before the grand jury which indicted them. We do not find in the record a request on their part that they be permitted to appear before the grand jury but in any event the denial of such a request would not have been error. It is not the function of the grand jury to determine guilt or innocence but only to determine whether the evidence offered by the state is sufficient to warrant putting the accused to trial. The accused has no constitutional right to appear as a witness before the grand jury or to examine other witnesses who appear. 38 C.J.S. Grand Juries § 39.