In re Report of Grand Jury

In this appeal we are asked to determine whether a grand jury has the power to report publicly specific instances of non-criminal misconduct of public officials. We determine that they do not and shall reverse.

The grand jury impaneled in the Circuit Court for Carroll County for its 1976 November Term included the following in its report:

“The Grand Jury has heard testimony concerning an investigation of allegations of impropriety on the part of employees of the Board of Education. Three employees were indicted by our predecessor and each has entered a plea of guilty to a felony prior to our…