<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82203</law_id><section_number>19.2-215.6</section_number><catch_line>Role and presence of special counsel; examination of witnesses; sworn investigators</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-215.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="13">Grand Juries</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Juries</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> may be present during the investigatory stage of a multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> proceeding and may examine any <span class="dictionary">witness</span> who is called to testify or produce <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>. The examination of a <span class="dictionary">witness</span> by special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> shall in no way affect the right of any grand juror to examine the <span class="dictionary">witness</span>.
		At the request of special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, the presiding <span class="dictionary">judge</span> shall designate specialized personnel for investigative purposes. Such personnel shall be designated as a sworn investigator and shall be administered an <span class="dictionary">oath</span> to maintain the secrecy of all proceedings of the multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>. A sworn investigator is permitted to discuss multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> proceedings with any other sworn investigator or special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> and may participate in multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> proceedings at the request of special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> or the <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>. Any specialized personnel who have been administered an <span class="dictionary">oath</span> to maintain the secrecy of all proceedings of the multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> before July 1, 2014, and who continue to serve in that position are deemed to be sworn investigators under this section.
		Special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> and sworn investigators, however, may not be present at any time during the <span class="dictionary">deliberations</span> of a multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> except when the <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> requests the legal advice of special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> as to specific questions of <span class="dictionary">law</span>.</p></section></text><history>1983, c. 543; 2014, c. 389.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
