Q&A: How does the grand jury process work?

Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced Wednesday that a grand jury returned an indictment against Trezell and Jacqueline West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, in their deaths. Here are answers to questions you might have about that process. Answer: A grand jury is a group of 19 community members tasked with holding public offices and officers accountable. A person must apply and meet qualifications to be considered eligible.

The jury is independent and its members are sworn to secrecy when related to complaints, witnesses or the content of investigative matters. Furthermore, these people can be convened for a criminal trial, according to the county of Kern’s website. Question: Why would a grand jury be called upon in a criminal matter? Answer: Local private defense attorney Mark Anthony Raimondo said the district attorney may call upon a grand jury if a matter is complex.

For example, a suspect could be considered a flight risk. Or, a person must be protected when trying a serious gang case. “There’s much more freedom for the DA to bring what they want … (and) to present their information in secret, not to disrupt the investigation itself,” Raimondo said. Zimmer said her office sought an indictment because these hearings can be conducted over a longer time frame. A preliminary hearing may finish in a short period of time.

Kern County Public Defender Peter Kang said complicated factual issues or to temporarily protect the identity of reluctant witnesses could be a reason to use a grand jury. The case against Armando Cruz, an Inglewood man who is alleged to have raped and killed 13-year-old Patricia Alatorre of Bakersfield, is a recent example of the district attorney’s office securing an indictment.

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