The Florida Supreme Court has been asked to step into a high-stakes legal battle over whether a statewide grand jury has the power to indict people who leak its secrets.
This move comes after a lower court ruled that such panels lack the authority to police their own confidentiality, a decision the State warns could strip grand juries of a vital tool used to protect the integrity of sensitive investigations.
The case centers on Barbara Myrick, the former general counsel for the Broward County Public Schools District. In 2021, Myrick testified before a statewide grand jury looking into school safety and fund mismanagement.
Prosecutors allege that after her testimony, Myrick called a witness and disclosed confidential details about the evidence and the identities of people being investigated. According to court filings, Myrick even allegedly admitted during the call that she was “not supposed to tell” the witness those details.
While a trial court initially refused to throw out the charges against Myrick, the Fourth District Court of Appeal recently stepped in and reversed that decision.
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The appellate court argued that the specific crime Myrick was charged with—unlawful disclosure of statewide grand jury proceedings—is not on the official list of crimes these juries are allowed to indict for under Florida law.
State attorneys, led by the Solicitor General’s office, filed a jurisdictional brief on March 31, 2026, arguing that the ruling creates a dangerous precedent. The State contends that if a grand jury cannot punish those who violate its secrecy, the entire system is undermined.
They are asking the Supreme Court to view these grand juries as a “class of constitutional officers” whose inherent powers must include the ability to protect their own proceedings.
The State’s argument is two-fold. First, they claim the leak should be considered a “crime involving fraud or deceit,” which is within the jury’s jurisdiction. Second, they argue that grand juries have an “inherent power” to maintain their own sanctity. As one dissenting judge in the lower court noted, it would be “ludicrous” if a grand jury could not investigate matters that threaten its own secrecy.
If the Supreme Court declines to hear the case, the ruling by the Fourth District will stand, effectively limiting the reach of statewide grand juries in Florida. The court is expected to decide whether to accept the case in the coming months.
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