Opinion: Dick Spotswood: Marin [County] Civil Grand Jury offers chance to work as public ‘watchdog’

Each of California’s 58 counties is required by state law to empanel a civil grand jury.

The jury’s mission is succinctly stated on the Marin Grand Jury’s website, “The Civil Grand Jury is the only independent ‘watchdog’ investigative body in Marin. Our job is to monitor the performance of local government and make recommendations which can save taxpayers’ dollars and improve services. We do so through investigation of officials suspected of misconduct or potential government inefficiencies.”

“Civil” is the operative word. The jury isn’t involved in criminal matters. Effectively, grand jurors are collectively Marin’s ombudsperson.

It’s easy to complain about the government but, at least in Marin, it’s surprisingly easy to do something about it. One route is to run for city or town council or apply for a county or municipal planning, park or library commission. Those options don’t work for everyone. For many, it’s too great a commitment given busy lives trying to earn a living, raise a family or participate in nonprofit and church groups.

Serving on Marin’s 19-member grand jury is one venue for citizens who want to give back and create change with only a one-year commitment. The jury is now recruiting for the 2022-23 term starting in July.

While it’s an honor and gratifying to serve, there’s zero pay or benefits. It’s pure public service.

The heart of their job is determining which citizen complaints to analyze and then prepare reports with suggestions for improvements and efficiencies. Local agencies are mandated to reply to grand jury findings but occasionally their responses are disingenuous. Then it’s up to Marin’s media and voters to push recalcitrant local governments to get their act in order by following the jury’s well-thought-out suggestions.

To get a flavor of the jurors’ work these were the reports issued in 2020: “Opioid Misuse,” “Roadblocks to Safer Evacuation,’” “The Gun Next Door: Firearm Safety,” “Reading, Writing and Therapy: Mental Health Challenges in our Schools,” “Climate Change: How Will Marin Adapt?,” and “Cyberattacks: A Growing Threat to Marin Governments.”

The oversight role is crucial in regard to Marin’s 30 special purpose water, fire, sanitary and community service districts. They are subject to no oversight by state, county or municipal governments. The only entity commissioned to keep an eye on special districts is the grand jury.

It’s a serious responsibility. Service is only for one year. I’ve heard some past jurors call it the “experience of a lifetime.” Qualifications: Be 18 or older, U.S. citizen, Marin resident for one year, computer literate, able to commit to at least 10 hours per week to the task, willingness to keep investigations confidential and the ability to work collegially with 18 others to achieve a common goal.

Interested? Go to the grand jury’s website for details and an application. Jurors are selected by Marin’s nonpartisan Superior Court judges. There are no insider political appointees.

Marin Independent Journal
Dick Spotswood
March 15, 2022