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House repeals archaic "one‑man grand jury" provision in criminal procedure code
Summary
House Bill 4434, authored by Representative Meerman, passed the Michigan House after sponsors argued the one‑man grand jury is an antiquated investigatory device that concentrates power in a single judge.
The Michigan House voted to repeal the rarely used one‑man grand jury procedure in the code of criminal procedure by passing House Bill 4434 on Wednesday.
Representative Meerman, sponsor of the bill, argued on the floor that the "1 man grand jury" is antiquated and concentrates investigatory authority in a single judge in a way that undermines fairness and due process. "Removing this tool isn't going to restrict the delivery of justice, and prosecutors will have all other task tactics and tools available to them under the law to bring charges against criminals," Meerman said.
The bill advanced without amendments and passed on a recorded roll call vote. The clerk announced a final tally of 74 ayes and 35 nays, and the House ordered immediate effect.
Sponsor remarks stressed due‑process concerns and the aim of bringing Michigan law into alignment with modern standards of impartiality in investigations.
With passage, the statutory provision enabling a one‑man grand jury would be repealed as specified in the enacted language; prosecutors retain other investigatory authorities under existing law.
