Are you interested in meeting our local leaders, learning about Napa government and improving the administration of county business? If so, the Napa County Superior Court seeks your application to serve on the 2009-2010 grand jury.
The grand jury consists of 19 citizens selected annually by the court to investigate local government agencies and citizen complaints. Specifically, the grand jury is sworn to scrutinize matters of civil concern such as the needs of county departments, how these agencies perform their duties, and what improvements can be made to meet the needs of our community. The grand jury is commonly referred to as the “watchdog” of the community because it determines if government can function better, save money, and conduct the people’s business in a more open, honest and efficient manner.
Each grand jury decides for itself which complaints will be investigated and what departments will be inspected. At the conclusion of its term, the grand jury prepares a report and makes recommendations addressing the specific concerns revealed during their probe. By law, the investigated departments must consider and formally respond to the report and recommendations made by the grand jury. As a result, many significant improvements to the day-to-day functioning of our government can be directly traced to the investigations and recommendations made by previous grand juries.
Persons interested in applying to serve on the grand jury must meet certain minimal qualifications. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, be a United States citizen and a resident of Napa County for at least one year. You cannot serve as grand juror if you have been convicted of a felony or if you are an elected public official.
All applications submitted are reviewed by Napa Superior Court judges who then nominate those most qualified to serve. From the pool of nominated individuals, grand jurors will be selected at random. The term of office for selected jurors will run between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010.
Although service on the grand jury does require a significant amount of time, the personal rewards are numerous. Service provides a fascinating opportunity for citizens to learn about the workings of the institutions and people who govern our local affairs, to meet new friends and to make a positive difference in our community.
Everyone who applies will be invited to an informational meeting where questions can be asked about the details of serving on a grand jury. At that meeting you can ask about the anticipated time commitments, compensation for service, the duties required and what support will be available to help you along the way.
Do not be discouraged from applying if you have no prior investigative experience; most grand jurors have no prior experience performing such tasks. If selected to serve as a grand juror, the Court will provide training and legal guidance to help you complete your mission.
The application deadline is April 30. For more information and an application form, visit the court’s Web site at www.napacourt.com. If you need more information or have additional questions, feel free to contact Stephen Bouch, the Napa Court executive officer, at 299-1110.
Courthouse Corner, providing information to help the general public deal with the civil and criminal courts, appears on the second Tuesday of each month. Information in the column is provided by Napa County Superior Court.
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/04/19/news/courthouse_corner/doc49e40aec8a54a444269240.txt
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