Under state law, Genesee County Circuit Judge David J. Newblatt — a Democratic appointee — was authorized to issue subpoenas, grant immunity to witnesses and pursue investigative leads of his own choosing before deciding whether to indict. But no one – including the judge, prosecutors or witnesses – is allowed to talk about the proceedings because doing so would itself be a crime. The process “wasn’t fair at all,” said John Truscott, a Republican consultant and ally of former Snyder Health Director Nick Lyon, who is again fighting charges of involuntary manslaughter over Legionnaires Disease deaths in Genesee county. “Under a one-man grand jury, the judge doesn’t get the total picture because the defense is not allowed to present,” Truscott said.