Superior Court leaders seek applicants to serve on [Solano County] grand jury

Solano County Superior Court leaders seek applicants to serve on the jury, a group of citizens permitted by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct and determine whether criminal charges should be brought.

In a press release issued Wednesday, Brian K. Taylor, the court’s executive officer, said anyone interested in being part of the grand jury for the 2022-23 year also must be citizens of the United States and be at least 18 years old.

Prospective jurors must also have lived in the county for at least one year immediately before being sworn in by the court’s current Presiding Judge, Donna Stashyn.

In the prepared statement, Taylor said, “Due to the uncertainty of COVID and the need to rely on technology to conduct the jury’s business,” it is also important to have some proficiency and access to technology.

Grand jurors come from all walks of life, so it is beneficial for volunteers to be in good health, to have good writing skills, to be open-minded, to work effectively with others and have sufficient knowledge of English, he added.

Anyone interested in joining the grand jury can access an application at https://solano.courts.ca.gov/divisions/grand-jury/apply, or call 435-2575.

The court’s announcement comes as the county’s Board of Supervisors declared February as Civil Grand Jury Month, celebrating a history of grand juries that predates the founding of the United States.

“Grand juries were established to oversee the functions of local governments to ensure they are functioning to the best advantage of the community,” said Taylor.

During its tenure in Solano, the grand jury has been “instrumental in awakening a conversation regarding dangerously overprescribed opiates,” he added. “That conversation continues today as members of the grand jury that produced that report continue to travel throughout the country, discussing their findings with health professionals and decision-makers.”

In addition, the grand jury has been responsible for “leading the charge in saving the county thousands of dollars in wasted or misplaced funds,” said Taylor.

The jury investigates complaints about fire districts, law enforcement, and any other city or county department that is part of a citizen complaint.

The idea of a civil grand jury is often confusing, even for those who have legal careers, said Taylor.

“When we hear about a grand jury, thoughts often turn to criminal actions and courts,” he explained. “However, the civil grand jury in Solano County does not handle such cases. Its involvement is as a ‘watchdog’ group that oversees county and city governments and how they function.”

The process begins when the 19 volunteers on the jury receive a complaint from a Solano County citizen. The jury reviews the complaint to determine if it falls within its jurisdiction. If the jury determines the complaint is viable, it conducts research, interviews and tours to determine the root of the “problem” and makes recommendations to resolve the issue. The jury sends the reports to the Solano County Superior Court and the department or agency under investigation for further action, said Taylor.

Every county in California has a grand jury. Although the Solano’s has 19 members, each grand jury varies in size.

Members serve for one year but may extend their term for one more year at the discretion of the Presiding Judge. After they serve their term, grand jurors must take a year off before serving again, said Taylor.

Vacaville Reporter
By Richard Bammer
February 9, 2022