Which statement best describes grand jury secrecy?

• A. They are kept secret by default
• B. They are public during the grand jury session
• C. They are only secret for witnesses for a period of time
• D. They can be disclosed by order of the court or under certain exceptions

Answer: (D)

Grand jury secrecy is about keeping the investigative process confidential, protecting witnesses from retaliation, and preserving the integrity of the inquiry. That secrecy is the default, but it isn’t absolute. The best description is that while proceedings are private, disclosure can occur when the court orders it or when specific exceptions apply, such as sharing information with other government officials or for related legal processes under proper safeguards.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: secrecy isn’t fully public during the session, and it isn’t secret only for witnesses for a period of time—the confidentiality applies to the proceedings overall, with defined carve-outs for when disclosure is legally allowed.