Considering applying and want to know the pros and cons… My state (California) and some others (I believe Florida is one) have them. Would love to hear from anyone with experience.
Not sure what you mean by “civil” grand jury. It’s my understanding that grand juries are always criminal and are an arm of the district attorney/prosecutors in a state. I have served on a grand jury and we heard criminal matters only. I’m also not aware that you can apply to sit on one. In my state, prospective jurors are drawn from voter registration lists, tax rolls and driver license lists. You are randomly summoned to appear for either trial/petit jury or grand jury service. Grand juries consist of 21 people and can only hear cases if 2/3 of the members are in attendance. We served one month but grand juries can be extended under certain circumstances - the Mueller grand jury was just extended.
For many people, it’s an inconvenience. You are away from your job for a longer period of time, often, than if you’d sat on a trial jury. The pay is never adequate, though many jobs will continue to pay you while you serve (and you turn over your jury service check to your employer).
There are really only two things that we, as citizens, are asked to do: vote and serve on juries. I’d do it again. You might want to google your state to see how juries operate and be aware that the federal system is separate and you can serve on both state and federal juries.
@lefthandofdog I was thinking as you were because the only grand juries I knew of were criminal ones…but here is the link for San Francisco…and you really do apply.
That sounds fascinating. That is the type of thing I would do if I was retired and lived in SF.
If you have the time and the interest, go for it. It’s an excellent form of civic service.
Varies by state and your state appears to not have them. Here’s the definition for California:
Every year, in each of California’s 58 counties, a group of ordinary citizens takes an oath to serve as grand jurors. Its function is to investigate the operations of the various officers, departments and agencies of local government. Each Civil Grand Jury determines which officers, departments and agencies it will investigate during its term of office.
You and I posted the same link. It appears CA DOES have civil grand juries.
Yes, it does. And there’s one for each county in CA so it’s not just San Francisco. The bit of reading I’ve done thus far said a number of states have them including Florida. Just wondering if any CC parents have served and what their experience was like.
My good friend has served in a northern county in CA for several terms (you have to take a year off in between). He loves it. He is a CPA and very in demand for helping parse financial stuff. It is also interesting to read the yearly reports to see what sort of stuff they find out. They are at liberty to investigate “public” things that catch their attention… like supervisors abusing travel funds, nursing homes that are in disarray, Child protective services that are so understaffed that kids are harmed badly. And they make a difference because sometimes just having people know about abuses helps to stop them.
If you are interested and have the time, I’d go for it. Most CA counties do not have many applicants, don’t know about SF.
I started reading my county’s reports after he started serving and learned a lot.
And yes, this is ENTIRELY different from the criminal grand jury stuff. It is a commitment, but a part time one. And the other jurors are usually interesting, intelligent people (from what he says).
This IS interesting - never heard of this, thanks for the links!