46-11-331. Finding indictment. (1) The grand jury shall find an indictment when all the evidence before it taken together would in its judgment warrant a conviction by a trial jury. An indictment may be found only upon the concurrence of at least eight grand jurors.

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Terms Used In Montana Code 46-11-331

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Court: means a place where justice is judicially administered and includes the judge of the court. See Montana Code 46-1-202
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Judge: means a person who is vested by law with the power to perform judicial functions. See Montana Code 46-1-202
  • Judgment: means an adjudication by a court that the defendant is guilty or not guilty, and if the adjudication is that the defendant is guilty, it includes the sentence pronounced by the court. See Montana Code 46-1-202
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Trial jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.

(2)If a complaint or information is pending against the defendant and eight jurors do not concur in finding an indictment, the lead juror shall report the decision to the district court judge.