U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announced a sweeping review of more than 1,000 grand jury presentations in the Northern District of Illinois following revelations of prosecutorial misconduct.
The review stems from the dismissal of charges in the Broadview Six case, which involved protesters arrested last fall outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois. U.S. District Judge April Perry unsealed grand jury transcripts that showed improper conduct by prosecutors.
Boutros, speaking in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, said the examination covers cases dating back to 2007 and includes all pending matters. He described the effort as a massive and comprehensive review already underway to restore confidence in the grand jury process.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg, who handled some of the cases, was fired by Sen. Dick Durbin after the transcripts revealed she vouched for evidence and dismissed dissenting grand jurors. Ten defendants across three cases have had charges dropped so far.
Boutros has introduced new reforms with clear guidelines on turning over grand jury material. Legal analyst Irv Miller noted the office is working to rebuild trust with judges following the issues.
