How Decisions by Grand Juries and Trial Juries May Affect Federal Criminal Cases in 2026

 Posted on April 29, 2026 in Criminal Law

People who are charged with federal crimes may feel as if they are facing an uphill battle in a system that is stacked against them. The resources available to federal prosecutors are vast, and conviction rates are high in these cases. People who are convicted of federal offenses will often face severe penalties, including sentences in federal prisons, the requirement to pay fines and restitution, and criminal records that carry collateral consequences. However, some recent trends may affect the ways certain federal criminal cases are handled, and defendants may have more opportunities for defending against convictions.

Because of the complex factors that are often involved in federal cases and the specific procedures followed in federal courts, defendants in these cases will need to be sure to secure legal representation from a criminal defense attorney who has experience defending against federal crimes. By doing so, they can make sure their rights will be protected, and they can develop effective defense strategies and take advantage of the opportunities that may be available as they work to resolve their cases.

How Federal Grand Juries Are Handling Indictments

When a person is charged with a federal crime, prosecutors will present a case before a grand jury and seek an indictment that will allow the prosecution to proceed. In the past, grand juries almost always approved indictments. During grand jury proceedings, prosecutors present evidence indicating that there is probable cause to believe that a person committed an offense, and the defense does not have any opportunity to address the accusations. Grand juries have usually issued indictments and allowed cases to move forward.

Over the past year, the practices followed by federal grand juries have been changing. An unprecedented number of grand juries have issued "no true bills" and refused to indict defendants. There have been several high-profile cases, including when the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump tried to prosecute New York Attorney General Letitia James for mortgage fraud, but a grand jury rejected the indictment. Other grand juries have refused to indict people who have been charged with offenses involving interference with federal immigration enforcement agents.

Acquittals by Federal Trial Juries

Recent trends have also shown that juries in federal trials are returning "not guilty" verdicts at higher rates. Many criminal justice advocates believe that federal officials are over-charging people with criminal offenses, especially in cases involving protests or allegations of interference with federal law enforcement officials. One notable case involved a man who was charged with assault after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent and who was acquitted by a jury.

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has been tracking federal cases that have involved aggressive prosecution or unusual tactics by prosecutors. It released a report covering cases handled between January 2025 and January 2026, and it found that there have been an exceptionally high number of cases in which juries have acquitted defendants who were charged with assaulting or interfering with immigration agents.

Contact Our Connecticut Federal Crimes Attorneys 

The trends discussed above may indicate that certain types of federal cases will be more likely to result in dismissals or acquittals, including those involving government protests or retaliatory tactics by federal prosecutors. However, there are many other types of federal cases that may be handled differently. People who are facing federal charges will need to make sure they have legal representation by an attorney who understands how to protect their rights and defend against a conviction. At Woolf & Ross Law Firm, LLC, our Hartford federal crimes defense lawyers can help clients determine their best options for defense while working to resolve these cases successfully. Contact us today at 860-290-8690 to schedule a free consultation.