Have you wondered how our
county and city governments truly operate? How our jails are run? Are you
interested in giving back and making a positive difference in your community?
One of the best opportunities
to get an insider's view of local governments and agencies, and to improve the
lives of fellow citizens, is to become a grand juror.
The Orange County Grand Jury is
composed of 19 citizens who perform two types of functions: They receive
evidence of serious crimes and determine whether to issue an indictment
charging one or more felonies; and they investigate county and local
governments and agencies to ensure that their activities are efficient and the
services they provide are within the confines of the law.
The grand jury can also inquire
into the actions of public officials who it believes may be committing
malfeasance — for example, corruption or violation of the public trust. If the
grand jury believes that a public official may be guilty of malfeasance, it can
refer the matter to the district attorney's office for possible prosecution.
The Orange County Grand Jury is
an independent public watchdog that is free to inquire into any governmental
unit in the county. No one can dictate to the grand jury to investigate, or not
investigate, any agency or any individual. That is the grand jury's sole
discretion.
An investigation can be
triggered in any number of ways: an anonymous tip, a formal complaint, an
article in the newspaper, a belief by one of the grand jurors that a public agency
may have committed wrongdoing.
At the conclusion of its
investigations, the grand jury prepares and publishes a report with
recommendations for improvements. By law, the government or agency reported on
must respond to the report in writing.
In performing their duties, the
grand jurors conduct extensive tours of various county facilities and get to
meet the movers and shakers of the county. In the process, they gain extensive
knowledge of how county governments and agencies, such as school and special districts,
do their jobs.
The work is interesting and
challenging; indeed, it has been characterized as life-changing by some former
grand jurors. The term of the next grand jury runs from July 1 to June 30,
2016. It is almost a full-time job. On average, the grand jurors meet four and
a half days a week.
Each grand jury sets its own
schedule and typically observes the 13 court holidays, with an additional two
weeks off during the year of service. Other time-off requests are submitted to
the foreperson for approval. Grand jurors receive a stipend of $50 per day,
mileage reimbursement and free parking in the basement of the Central Justice
Center in Santa Ana, where they meet.
The grand jurors must be 18
years or older, U.S. citizens and residents of Orange County for at least one
year and have a sufficient command of the English language to be able to
prepare reports. Experience has taught that the best grand jurors are those
individuals who are committed to the job, who are diligent, who work well in a
group, and who can write well and operate a computer — especially the
word-processing function.
The court is seeking applicants
from throughout Orange County. I encourage those who meet the minimum
qualifications and who are able to devote one year of public service to go to http://www.ocgrandjury.org
to learn more and fill out the application.
Applications can also be obtained by calling (657) 622-6747. The application
deadline is Friday.
January
26, 2015
Daily
Pilot
By Charles Margines , assistant presiding
judge of the Orange County Superior Court
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