Grand Juries Missing in Action | Duluth News

Derek Chauvin’s conviction is sparking a firestorm over due process, as his legal team argues he was denied constitutional rights by being charged without a grand jury indictment — the same argument made for Trooper Ryan Londregan, who was later dropped from charges despite bypassing this critical safeguard. Grand juries, designed to act as a check on government power by independently reviewing evidence before felony charges are filed, are increasingly sidelined in Minnesota — a trend that’s left prosecutors like Mary Moriarty charging officers without this traditional buffer, even though state law and the Supreme Court recognize its vital role. From George Floyd’s arrest to other high-profile cases, multiple officers have been prosecuted and convicted without grand jury review, raising alarms that this shift — accelerated since 2016 amid public pressure — may be eroding accountability safeguards built into Minnesota’s legal system. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c7fd75b842848d61