§ 15A-626 — Who may call witnesses before grand jury; no right to appear without consent of prosecutor or judge

North Carolina § 15A-626

• Jurisdiction: North Carolina
• Ch. 15A: Criminal Procedure Act
• Art. 31: The Grand Jury and Its Proceedings
• Subch. VI: Preliminary Proceedings

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(a) Except as provided in this section, no person has a right to call a witness or appear as a witness in a grand jury proceeding.
(b) In proceedings upon bills of indictment submitted by the prosecutor to the grand jury, the clerk must call as witnesses the persons whose names are listed on the bills by the prosecutor. If the grand jury desires to hear any witness not named on the bill under consideration, it must through its foreman request the prosecutor to call the witness. The prosecutor in his discretion may call, or refuse to call, the witness.
(c) In considering any matter before it a grand jury may swear and hear the testimony of a member of the grand jury.
(d) Any person not called as a witness who desires to testify before the grand jury concerning a criminal matter which may properly be considered by the grand jury must apply to the district attorney or to a superior court judge. The judge or the district attorney in his discretion may call the witness to appear before the grand jury.
(e) An official who is required or authorized to call a witness before the grand jury does so by issuing a subpoena for the witness or by causing one to be issued. If the official is assured that the witness will appear when requested without issuance of a subpoena, he may call the witness simply by notifying him of the time and place his presence is requested before the grand jury. (1973, c. 1286, s. 1; 1975, c. 166, s. 27.)