CALIFORNIA GRAND JURORS’ ASSOCIATION
Public Relations Committee

Media Release – February 7, 2013

CONTACT PERSON:

Keath North
knorth@cgja.org
707.845.3612

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Click here to watch VIDEO of Lt. Gov. Newsom launching Public Service Announcements promoting grand jury service

The California Grand Jurors’ Association is pleased that Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom has released two public service announcements promoting volunteerism in the state’s unique county grand jury system.

California’s county grand juries have a powerful role in local government, as they have the authority to review and investigate all local government entities in their county to determine that services are being provided in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
Embedded in the state Constitution, this important function is only possible due to the volunteer services of citizens in each county.

Service on a county grand jury requires a commitment of one year.

An inquiring mind and the ability to acquire and analyze facts to develop significant and achievable recommendations are needed. Grand juries acting in the civil oversight role, while not looking for criminal behavior, sometimes find it, resulting in an official being removed from office or convicted.

Lt. Governor Newsom was an active supporter of the San Francisco Grand Jury during his tenure as Mayor, and has lent his voice to this recruiting message. He believes in the system and encourages all interested and qualified citizens to consider volunteering in each of California’s 58 counties.

The California Grand Jurors’ Association is an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the California grand jury system in its civil oversight role, through the training of grand jurors and education of the general public about the value of the grand jury system.

The two PSAs will be distributed statewide, and also posted on the CGJA’s website, www.cgja.org.