Application process underway for El Dorado County Grand Jury

Applications are being taken for the 2013-2014 El Dorado County Grand Jury. Nineteen jurors will be picked to serve for a year beginning July 1.

The El Dorado Civil Grand Jury is an investigatory body created for the protection of society and the enforcement of the law. It is an arm of the Court and a representative of the public. Although it is an arm of the Court, it operates independently of direct Court supervision. It is a check against governmental authority. It is not a branch of the County, nor is it answerable to the District Attorney.

Applicants must be United States citizens, at least 18 years of age, have resided in the County for at least one year at the time of the swearing-in date, and cannot hold an elected office. The Judges of the Superior Court shall select names from those submitted, as well as other nominees, and currently seated grand jurors who wish to be held over, to be put into the jury pool. Nineteen jurors are then selected in a random drawing from this pool. Final selection will take place in late June.

The Grand Jury acts as an investigative body to ensure that county, special district, and city government is being effectively run. The Grand Jury is not a jury for a trial. Typically the Jury looks at systems and processes. The Jury has no enforcement authority; it can only make recommendations, through publication of a final report, usually published at the end of June each year (See Penal Code 933 & 933.05).

The Jury cannot normally resolve or solve emergency situations. Each complaint the Jury accepts for investigation must be investigated thoroughly, seeking out and analyzing the facts prior to writing a report for publication. This is a time consuming process and usually takes many months to complete. For a complete description of the Grand Jury’s duties, as well as past and present Grand Jury Reports, go here.

Jurors are regularly called upon to confer with government officials and other citizens in order to gain information and insight concerning matters under investigation. While being a Grand Juror is not a full-time job, it does require a substantial time commitment. This time includes attendance at meetings and committee meetings, investigating, and preparing written reports.

The El Dorado County Grand Jury sets its own meeting schedule. However, jurors can typically expect to serve a minimum of 6-7 hours over two days per week. Investigative committee chairs and the foreperson may expect to serve 10-20 hours per week. Jurors can certainly take vacations during the session, but periods of absence exceeding two weeks, especially during the second half of the session, should be held to a minimum.

Meetings are compensated at the maximum rate of $15.00 per day of meeting; mileage is compensated at the rate payable to employees of El Dorado County for each mile actually and necessarily traveled for purposes of said sessions or committee work. No other compensation is provided.

Qualified citizens who have an interest in this unique type of service may pick up an application from Suzanne M. Thurman, Executive Administrative Assistant for the Superior Court, at 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 110 (Building C), Placerville, California.

The application is also available on-line at http://www.edcgov.us/GrandJury/. You may also call (530) 621-7414 and request an application/questionnaire to be mailed or emailed to you. May 17, 2013 is the deadline for submitting your application for Grand Jury service. Original completed applications must be submitted to the Superior Court, Attn: Suzanne M. Thurman, Executive Administrative Assistant, 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 110, Placerville, CA 95667.