Which of the following statements about bench warrants is accurate?

• A. A bench warrant can be issued only after a judge directs the clerk to issue the warrant.
• B. A bench warrant is issued when a grand jury finds probable cause, and the judge directs the clerk to issue the warrant.
• C. A bench warrant is issued after a grand jury finds probable cause, with no judge involvement.
• D. A bench warrant is issued when a grand jury finds probable cause, and the jury directs the clerk to issue the warrant.

Answer: (C)

Bench warrants come from judicial authorization. A bench warrant is an arrest order issued by a judge (or magistrate) directing law enforcement to arrest a person who has failed to appear or otherwise violated court obligations. The key point is that the warrant is issued or issued upon the judge’s direction to the clerk, ensuring there is lawful judicial approval before arrest. Grand juries handle indictments and determine probable cause for charging someone, not the issuance of bench warrants, so involvement of a grand jury is not part of the bench warrant process.

So the statement that a bench warrant is issued only after a judge directs the clerk to issue the warrant is the one that correctly captures how bench warrants are typically authorized.