Madera County grand jury releases findings on Madera Cemetery District

December 18, 2014

The Fresno Bee

By Rory Appleton

The Madera County grand jury announced Thursday the results of an inquiry into the day-to-day activities within the Madera Cemetery District.

Most of the findings were positive. The report says the district is in good financial standing, and its employees and facilities were generally up to code.

The grand jury did recommend several fixes. It suggested installing an emergency eyewash and shower at the North Fork Cemetery, converting print records to digital, putting computers at each cemetery except Raymond, and investigating the possibility of building a well and developing the newly acquired land adjacent to the Oakhill Cemetery.

[Sacramento County] Grand jury opens inquiry into Sac City Council

December 18, 2014

KCRA 3

By Kevin Oliver

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —The Sacramento County grand jury has opened an official inquiry into Sacramento City Council expenditures, following a KCRA 3 investigation:

http://www.kcra.com/grand-jury-opens-inquiry-into-sacramento-city-council-funds/30311464

SAN BERNARDINO: Court seeks civil grand jury applications

Volunteers serve up to five days a week for a year on a civil grand jury that investigates aspects of local governments

BY GAILWESSON / STAFF WRITER

Published: Dec. 17, 2014 12:00 p.m.

, FILE PHOTO

San Bernardino County Superior Court is seeking volunteers to serve as civil grand jurors for the July 2015 to June 30, 2016 term.

Volunteer service involves an average of three to five days per week meeting in downtown San Bernardino, according to a San Bernardino County Superior Court news release. Compensation is $25 a day plus meals and mileage.

Potential applicants must be U.S. citizens at least age 18 and San Bernardino County residents for at least a year prior to appointment. The state Penal Code calls for civil grand juries to investigate aspects of local government, and sometimes hear criminal investigation information. Civil juries respond to all signed citizen complaints.

Volunteers may obtain an application by calling 909-387-3820, pick one up at a county courthouse or complete an application online at www/sbcounty.gov/grandjury The application deadline is March 2.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9075 or gwesson@pe.com

[Fresno County] How Effective Are Grand Juries? We Ask Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Oliver

December 9, 2014

KVPR, Valley Public Radio

By Ezra David Romero and Joe Moore

Note: this links to a radio broadcast where Judge Robert Oliver talks about criminal and civil grand juries, focusing on the latter.

The recent killings of two unarmed black men at the hands of white police officers in Ferguson Missouri and New York City have brought the issue of race and law enforcement to the headlines.

But they’ve also brought the ancient institution of the grand jury to the national spotlight, after similar bodies in both states declined to bring charges against the officers involved.

Some have questioned the effectiveness of these secret panels, yet they remain an important part of our legal system today. The soon-to-retire Judge Robert Oliver of the Fresno County Superior Court joins Valley Edition  host Joe Moore to tell us more about the grand jury system.

Listen here:

http://kvpr.org/post/how-effective-are-grand-juries-we-ask-fresno-county-superior-court-judge-robert-oliver