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Senate advances bill allowing prosecutors to accuse many felonies without grand jury; critics cite loss of grand jury check
Summary
Senate committee voted 6-1 to allow prosecutors to file accusations (instead of seeking grand‑jury indictments) for a list of felonies intended to speed case processing and reduce law‑enforcement downtime; opponents argued the change reduces a constitutional check and recommended procedural safeguards including timely delivery of accusations.
A Senate committee on Tuesday voted 6‑1 to advance Senate Bill 204, a measure that would allow prosecutors to bring accusations in many felony cases that currently require grand‑jury indictment, a change sponsors said would speed prosecutions and reduce burdens on law‑enforcement officers.
Senate Bill 204, sponsored by Leader Jones, narrows the mandatory use of grand juries to the most serious violent and capital‑exposure offenses and expands the use of prosecutor‑filed accusations for other felonies so those cases can proceed without delay. The sponsor called the bill an efficiency and transparency measure: moving appropriate matters to accusation would allow prosecutors to be…
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