Grand jury information disclosure is governed by what?

• A. It can be disclosed only under court order
• B. It can never be disclosed
• C. It is disclosed automatically to the defendant
• D. It is governed by specific rules and exceptions

Answer: (D)

Grand jury information is kept confidential by a defined framework that specifies when and how it can be shared. The best answer reflects that there are specific rules and carved-out exceptions governing disclosure, not a blanket rule or an automatic release. In practice, secrecy is the default, and any disclosure happens only under tightly controlled circumstances—typically with a court order or under narrowly described statutory exceptions. A guiding example is Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which protects grand jury secrecy and sets out the limited situations in which information may be disclosed. This structured approach ensures the integrity of the grand jury process while allowing necessary disclosures in specific, justified cases.