Champaign County Cancels Grand Juries to Cut Costs

Budget constraints are forcing officials in Champaign County to end grand juries. The central Illinois county's final grand jury session is scheduled for July 22. The county uses grand juries to decide if prosecutors have enough evidence to take a felony charge case to trial. Grand juries were established in Champaign County during the 1980s.

Champaign County grand jurors serve for four months at a time, usually hearing between five and 16 cases per day. They are paid $10 a day plus mileage. Presiding Judge Tom Difanis says eliminating grand juries should save the county about $4,000 annually.