Follow on question: If a grand jury is optional for an indictment why have one? (Often wondered about the grand jury system and why it was needed.)
In Baltimore, it is not optional. She has to take the case to a GJ within, I think, 30 days. What she did was to announce that there was probable cause so they could be arrested.
A grand jury operated in complete secrecy, with sealed records and unnamed, but sworn witnesses. They have a lot of leeway in asking questions on just about anything relating to the case (people or organization who are subjects of investigation).
That is why the communists with their Coalition to Stop Grand Jury Abuse, waged a national campaign against federal grand juries investigating domestic terrorism. They knew that a DA often did not get all the answers to issues in a possible case that a grand jury could elicit because of their independence in asking them.
Whenever you hear someone suggest getting rid of the grand jury system, find out if they belong to the Marxist National Lawyers Guild (behind the Abolish Grand Jury movement) (It was created by the Communist Party USA back in the 40’s), or its offspring, the Center for Constitutional Rights. Don’t know if the parallel leftist ACLU is waging a similar campaign but they often join red united fronts rather than taking the lead on it.
There is also a Marxist black attorneys’ organization known as the National Conference of Black Lawyers, not to be confused with the legit National Bar Association, a black legal organization in its own right.