(1) The general assembly finds that the state grand jury exists because of the need to investigate and prosecute crime without regard to county or judicial district boundaries in cases involving organized crime, criminal activity in more than one judicial district, or unusual difficulties in the investigation or adjudication of a matter or cases in which the attorney general has authority to prosecute. The state grand jury is intended, therefore, to be a law enforcement tool with statewide jurisdiction.
(2) When the attorney general deems it to be in the public interest to convene a grand jury that has jurisdiction extending beyond the boundaries of any single county, the attorney general may petition the chief judge of any district court for an order in accordance with the provisions of this article. Said chief judge may, for good cause shown, order the impaneling of a state grand jury that shall have statewide jurisdiction. In making a determination as to the need for impaneling a state grand jury, the judge shall require a showing that the matter cannot be effectively handled by a grand jury impaneled pursuant to article 72 or 74 of this title, such grand juries being referred to in this article as a "county grand jury" or a "judicial district grand jury", respectively.
Source: L. 71: p. 880, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 78-8-1. L. 96: Entire section amended, p. 738, § 12, effective July 1. L. 97: (1) amended, p. 1552, § 4, effective July 1.