§ 16-85-501 - Appointment of foreman and clerk.
16-85-501. Appointment of foreman and clerk.
(a) The court shall appoint one of the number of every grand jury as foreman.
(b) Every grand jury may appoint one of the members to be clerk, to preserve and keep minutes of their proceedings and of the evidence given before them.
(1) However, the presiding judge of the circuit court, at his or her discretion, may require the official court reporter in counties where provision is not otherwise made for a reporter to report the proceedings of the grand jury, to attend all or any sessions of the grand jury of the court, and to make reports of the proceedings of the grand jury at such sessions or such part of the proceedings as the judge of the court may direct, and to furnish to the prosecuting attorney, as promptly as practicable, transcribed, typewritten copies of all or such part of the proceedings so reported as the judge or the prosecuting attorney may request.
(2) Court reporters attending sessions of the grand jury shall be subject to the same penalties as are prescribed by law for any person divulging, except as authorized by law, any part of the proceedings of the grand jury.
(3) The official reporters of circuit courts are required to perform the duties imposed upon them in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, in addition to their other duties, and without additional compensation.