Oklahoma § 22-351 - Verified application - Order - Authority of district

§ 22-351. Verified application - Order - Authority of district

attorney.

A. 1. Whenever the Attorney General considers it to be in the

public interest to convene a grand jury with jurisdiction extending

beyond the boundaries of a single county, he or she shall file a

verified application with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or

with such Justice of the Supreme Court as is designated by rule to

receive such application.

2. The application shall:

a.

state that in the judgment of the Attorney General,

the convening of a multicounty grand jury is necessary

because of organized crime or public corruption, or

both, involving more than one county of the state and

that, in the judgment of the Attorney General, the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 22. Criminal Procedure

investigation cannot be adequately performed by a

county grand jury, and

b.

specify those counties for which the multicounty grand

jury is to be convened.

3. The Supreme Court, within fifteen (15) days, shall

determine whether or not to issue an order convening the multicounty

grand jury. If an order is issued convening said jury, the purpose

or purposes shall be set forth in such order.

B. An order granting the convening of a multicounty grand jury

issued under subsection A of this section shall:

1. Convene a multicounty grand jury having jurisdiction over

any subject matter listed in Section 353 of this title which occurs

in any single county or in multiple counties of this state approved

by the Supreme Court and requested in the application by the

Attorney General;

2. Designate a district court judge to be the presiding judge

over such multicounty grand jury and provide that such judge shall,

with respect to investigations, indictments, reports, and all other

proper activities of said multicounty grand jury, have jurisdiction

over all counties in the jurisdiction of said multicounty grand

jury; and

3. Provide for such other incidental arrangements as may be

necessary, including a determination of the share of costs

attributable to the state.

C. The impaneling of a multicounty grand jury shall not be

construed to diminish the responsibility or the authority of any

district attorneys within their respective jurisdictions to

investigate and prosecute organized crime or public corruption, or

any other crime.

Added by Laws 1987, c. 99, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1987. Amended by Laws

2003, c. 388, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.