Fla. Stat. 905.17
Who may be present during session of grand jury


(1)

No person shall be present at the sessions of the grand jury except the witness under examination, one attorney representing the witness for the sole purpose of advising and consulting with the witness, the state attorney and her or his assistant state attorneys, designated assistants as provided for in s. 27.18, the court reporter or stenographer, and the interpreter. The stenographic records, notes, and transcriptions made by the court reporter or stenographer shall be filed with the clerk who shall keep them in a sealed container not subject to public inspection. The notes, records, and transcriptions are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and shall be released by the clerk only on request by a grand jury for use by the grand jury or on order of the court pursuant to s. 905.27.

(2)

The witness may be represented before the grand jury by one attorney. This provision is permissive only and does not create a right to counsel for the grand jury witness. The attorney for the witness shall not be permitted to address the grand jurors, raise objections, make arguments, or otherwise disrupt proceedings before the grand jury. The attorney for the witness shall be permitted to advise and counsel the witness and shall be subject to the provisions of s. 905.27 in the same manner as all who appear before the grand jury. An attorney or law firm may not represent more than one person or entity in an investigation before the same grand jury or successive grand juries in the same investigation.

(3)

No person shall be present while the grand jurors are deliberating or voting, except that an interpreter appointed pursuant to s. 90.6063(2) may be present after swearing to refrain from personal interjection and to uphold the secrecy of the proceeding.

(4)

An intentional violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute indirect criminal contempt of court. Further, and in addition to any contempt sanction, if the court determines that the attorney for the witness has violated any of the provisions of subsection (2), then the court may take such measures as are necessary to ensure compliance with subsection (2), including exclusion of the offending attorney from the grand jury room.

(5)

This section does not apply to proceedings of the statewide grand jury created in s. 905.33.

Source: Section 905.17 — Who may be present during session of grand jury, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0905.­17 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

905.01
Number and procurement of grand jury
905.02
Who may challenge
905.03
Ground for challenge to panel
905.04
Grounds for challenge to individual prospective grand juror
905.05
When challenge or objection to be made
905.06
How challenge made and tried
905.07
Effect of sustaining challenge to panel
905.08
Appointment of foreperson
905.09
Discharge and recall of grand jury
905.10
Oath of grand jurors
905.11
Charge of court
905.12
Retirement of grand jurors
905.13
Appointment of clerk
905.15
Appointment of interpreter
905.16
Duties of grand jury
905.17
Who may be present during session of grand jury
905.18
Duty of court
905.19
Duty of state attorney
905.20
Duty of grand juror having knowledge of offense
905.21
When grand jury of another county may indict in other cases
905.22
Swearing of witnesses
905.23
Number of grand jurors required to return indictment
905.24
Proceedings of grand jury to be kept secret
905.25
Grand juror not permitted to state or testify
905.26
Not to disclose finding of indictment
905.27
Testimony not to be disclosed
905.28
Publication of report or presentment
905.31
Short title
905.32
Legislative intent
905.33
Petition to Supreme Court by Governor
905.34
Powers and duties
905.35
Appointment of foreperson and deputy foreperson
905.36
Duty of state attorney or other legal adviser
905.37
List of prospective jurors
905.38
Summoning of jurors
905.39
Judicial supervision
905.40
Payment of costs and expenses
905.075
Excusing grand juror related to person being investigated
905.095
Extension of grand jury term
905.165
Grand jury to make presentments
905.185
State attorney to issue process
905.195
List of witnesses
905.395
Unlawful acts related to disclosure of proceedings

Current through Fall 2025

§ 905.17. Who may be present during session of grand jury's source at flsenate​.gov