The 2023 Oconee Grand Jury is seated

A group of 18 Oconee citizens is now seated at Walhalla and, together, they possess great power to decide whether criminal charges reach the courtroom of county General Sessions Court.  The seating of the 2023 Grand Jury was one of the first proceedings yesterday at the start of the county’s first general sessions term.  Lisa Burton, clerk of court, says of the 18 members, six are holdovers from 2022.  An additional six persons will serve as alternates.  The grand jury will follow a schedule of once-a-month meetings primarily to consider indictments against people arrested by various law enforcement agencies.  By law, the grand jurors possess other powers including the ability to investigate criminal conduct for which no formal charges have been filed.  They may subpoena physical evidence or individuals to testify.  Grand jury deliberations are not open to the public or press.  As recently as the latter part of the 20th century, Oconee grand jury actions often resulted from investigations.  For example, the county grand jury once ordered the closing of an old Walhalla school building, parts of which were deemed unsafe.