Runaway Grand Jury May Be Probing DA's Office, Has Asked for 3 More Months and Special Prosecutor
An unusual runaway grand jury in Houston may be probing the local district attorney’s office in addition to issues with the city police department’s breath alcohol testing vans.
But the grand jury might also, or alternatively, be looking at other issues; not even the Harris County DA’s office knows. That’s because it kicked prosecutors out of the courtroom last week, threatening to have bailiffs remove them if they did not leave, reports the Houston Chronicle.
Today, in open court, the grand jury asked for an extension of its three-month term, which was supposed to end next month. It has also requested a special prosecutor, the newspaper says.
DA Pat Lykos is considering a further appeal of a ruling by the presiding judge and an appellate court that the grand jury has the power to exclude prosecutors.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Houston Grand Jurors Boot Prosecutors; Judge and Appeals Court Nix Gov’t Re-Entry Plea”
