[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 129 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              INTRODUCTION OF THE GRAND JURY REDUCTION ACT

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                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 3, 1995
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, this Congress has taken unprecedented 
action in reducing the size of the Federal Government. No Government 
agency has escaped our careful scrutiny as we have searched for places 
to trim Government waste.
  Today, I am introducing a bill that will trim a bit further. I 
believe it is time to turn our attention to the grand jury process.
  Currently grand juries consist of at least 16 and no more than 23 
members and an indictment may be found only upon the concurrence of 12 
or more jurors. Reducing grand jury size has had considerable support 
and in fact the Judicial Conference recommended a cut in grand jury 
size as long ago as 1974.
  A panel of 23 is administratively unwieldy, costly, and unnecessary. 
According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, in fiscal 
year 1992 the average number of grand jurors which sat on a grand jury 
in session was 19.8. In fact, some grand juries sit with only 16 
jurors, the number necessary for a quorum under present law.
  In fiscal year 1992 total grand jury payments totalled $16,526,275 or 
$67 per day per juror. We would see significant cost savings if the 
number of grand jurors was received.
  This would be a practical, as well as a cost-savings, reform, In a 
1977 hearing on grand jury reform the counsel of the Administrative 
Office of the U.S. Courts testified that ``our experience is that it is 
easier to summon a smaller panel than a larger one from throughout the 
larger districts.''
  My bill amends 18 U.S.C. 3321 to reduce the number of grand jurors 
necessary for a grand jury to be impaneled. Under my bill every grand 
jury impaneled before any district court shall consist of not less than 
9 nor more than 13 jurors. An indictment may be found only if at least 
9 jurors are present and 7 of those present concur. Judges across my 
congressional district have endorsed this reduction.
  The Judicial Conference is scheduled to meet again in September. I am 
hopeful that the Conference will endorse my proposal at this meeting.
  As a member of the Courts and Intellectual Property Subcommittee, I 
see this as an initial step toward larger judicial reform which the 
subcommittee will undertake later this Congress. I urge my colleagues 
to support this important proposal.


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