WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that witnesses who lie to a grand jury are protected from civil lawsuits.
The court said Monday that the same rules apply to grand juries as trials, where witnesses cannot be sued over what they say.
Justice Samuel Alito said in his opinion for the court that there is no reason to draw a distinction between grand juries and trials.
Lying under oath can subject someone to criminal charges. That was not at issue before the high court.
