The Superior Court, County of San Mateo announced today that applications for service on the 2014-2015 Civil Grand Jury will be accepted for consideration beginning January 30, 2014 and continuing until March 28, 2014. The next Grand Jury term commences July 1, 2014 and ends June 30, 2015.
The Civil Grand Jury performs a vital independent citizen watchdog function over County and city governments. It chooses its own investigation subjects and publishes reports that highlight findings and make recommendations for improvement. Notably, over 600 recommendations made as a result of Civil Grand Jury investigation reports from 2010 – 2012 have been or were committed to be implemented.
Any resident of San Mateo County for more than one year who is a citizen of the United States 18 years of age or older, of ordinary intelligence, sound judgment and good character, with sufficient knowledge of the English language is qualified to serve. The Grand Jury Judge will interview qualified applicants, with the final selection determined by random draw. Elected public officials are not eligible.
The Court strives to obtain a cross section of the County population to serve and encourages all interested individuals to apply. For more information and to download an application form, click HERE or
email grandjury@sanmateocourt.org or call 650-261-5066.
Additionally, for 2014, the San Mateo County Association of Grand Jurors is hosting a series of six public information sessions around the County. Recent former Grand Jurors will explain the grand jury process, time commitments, benefits of service, answer questions for potential applicants, and connect interested citizens who want even more information with its network of volunteers.
The schedule and locations are as follows:
Tuesday, 2/11/2014, 4:30-5:30pm
Serramonte Main Library Community Room
40 Wembley Drive, Daly City
Thursday, 2/13/2014, 4:30-5:30pm
Redwood Shores Branch Library – Room A
399 Marine Parkway, Redwood City
Tuesday, 2/18/2014, 4:30-5:30pm
Foster City Community Center – Port Room
1000 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City
Thursday, 2/20/2014, 4:30-5:30pm
City Council Chambers
2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto
Tuesday, 2/25/2014, 4:30-5:30pm
San Mateo County Health Dept. – Suite 100A
225 S. Cabrillo Hwy (Rt.1), Half Moon Bay
Thursday 2/27/2014, 4:30-5:30pm
Veterans Memorial Recreation Center – Rm 1
Crystal Springs Ave. at Oak Ave.
251 City Park Way, San Bruno
How the Civil Grand Jury Works
Applications for service are received by the Jury Commissioner and reviewed by the Grand Jury Judge. Effort is made to impanel an ideal jury of qualified men and women of diverse socio-economic, ethnic, educational backgrounds, representative geographical areas of the county, as well as age groups. By court policy, and at the discretion of the Grand Jury Judge, up to seven members of the previous year’s jury may serve a second term to provide continuity. A total of 19 people serve on the Grand Jury. From the remaining candidates, a drawing is held to provide for alternates.
San Mateo County jurors are sworn in and begin their one-year term commencing the first day of July. The Grand Jury Judge appoints a foreperson to preside at meetings. The jury then chooses the remaining officers and organizes itself into committees. Each committee sets its own program of committees, investigations and interviews. The committee then investigates various departments and functions of local government as it chooses and reviews compliance with previous Civil Grand Jury recommendations. Department heads are interviewed, on-site visits are made and departments’ strengths and weaknesses are investigated.
Some subjects to be investigated are brought about by letters from citizens regarding complaints of alleged mistreatment by officials, suspicion of misconduct or governmental inefficiencies. Such complaints are kept confidential. If the situation warrants, and after investigation, the Grand Jury may make appropriate recommendations for action.
A large portion of the public mistakenly believes that an individual appearing before the Civil Grand Jury, particularly a public official, suggests malfeasance or misfeasance. It should be clearly understood that it is the constitutional responsibility of the Grand Jury to review the conduct of county government each year. This entails having public officials appear before the jury to provide information to the jury relative to their departments or offices.
While Grand Jurors are a part of the Judicial System and are considered as officers of the court, the Grand Jury is an entirely independent body. The Grand Jury Judge, the District Attorney, the County Counsel, and the State Attorney General act as advisors, but cannot limit actions of the jury except for illegality.
Because of the confidential nature of a Grand Jury’s work, much of it must be done in closed session. Members of a Grand Jury are sworn to secrecy, thus assuring all who appear that their complaints will be handled in an entirely confidential manner. No one may be present during sessions of the Grand Jury except those specified by law (Penal Code 939), and the minutes of its meetings may not be inspected by anyone, nor can its records be subpoenaed.
The law provides that every Grand Juror must keep secret all evidence adduced before the Grand Jury, anything said by a Grand Juror or the manner in which a grand juror may have voted on a matter. By law it is a misdemeanor to violate the secrecy of the Grand Jury room. A Grand Juror must not confide any information concerning testimony of witnesses or action of the jury even to a spouse or close friend. “Leaks” concerning Grand Jury proceedings inevitably will impair or even destroy the effectiveness of Grand Jury efforts.
Mid-year and final reports are prepared that describe problems and contain findings and recommendations. Responses are required within 90 days from any public agency, and 60 days from any elective county officer or agency head.
San Mateo County Association of Grand Jurors
The San Mateo County Association of Grand Jurors (SMCAGJ) is a nonprofit organization whose members are former grand jurors. The goal of the SMCAGJ is to support residents of San Mateo County to apply for grand jury service. The Vision of SMCAGJ is to emphasize the important role grand jurors offer to the system of justice and to make citizens of California aware that grand jurors are the conscience of the community, an arm of the courts and provide government oversight.
The San Mateo County Association of Grand Jurors’ Board of Directors would like to thank you for visiting our website.We hope our endeavors have enhanced your knowledge of the grand jury system in California.