Legal Definitions - grand inquest

Definition: A grand inquest is an inquiry into a certain matter by a jury empaneled for that purpose. It can also refer to an impeachment proceeding or a survey of lands resulting in the Domesday Book. In legal terms, it is an inquiry by a coroner or medical examiner, sometimes with the aid of a jury, into the manner of death of a person who has died under suspicious circumstances or who has died in prison.

• Legal inquest: A coroner conducts an inquest into the death of a person who died under suspicious circumstances to determine the cause of death.
• Impeachment proceeding: The House of Representatives conducts a grand inquest to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by a government official.
• Domesday Book: William the Conqueror ordered a grand inquest to survey the lands of England in 1085-1086, resulting in the Domesday Book.

The examples illustrate how a grand inquest can be used in different contexts, such as legal proceedings, historical surveys, and political investigations. In each case, a jury or other group is empaneled to conduct an inquiry into a specific matter and reach a finding or conclusion.