People of Michigan v. Nicolas Lyon

Summary

The Michigan Supreme Court held that defendants charged through the one-man grand-jury procedure are entitled to a preliminary examination before being brought to trial. It also held that the governing statutes authorize investigation, subpoenas, and arrest warrants, but do not authorize a judge conducting the inquiry to issue an indictment initiating a criminal prosecution. The court therefore reversed the orders denying preliminary examinations and the motion to dismiss, and remanded all three cases for further proceedings.