The Contra Costa County Superior Court is accepting applications for Civil Grand Jury service for the fiscal year 2012-13 term.

The Civil Grand Jury is made up of 19 members, who serve for one year, July through June, to monitor, review and report on city and county governments, special districts and school districts. “Grand Juries are the citizen watchdogs of civic functions,” says current Grand Jury Foreperson Lloyd Bell. “All county citizens have the authority to call the juries’ attention to issues within their governmental agencies that they think should be reviewed.”

Every effort is made to ensure that the Grand Jury reflects the makeup of the residents of the county. Approximately 60 applicants are selected to be interviewed by the Grand Jury Selection Committee, which is composed of Superior Court judges. Following interviews, the judges nominate approximately 30 applicants to constitute a grand jury pool from which the final panel of 19 is selected by random drawing.

Those selected for service must be available during the last two weeks of June to meet with outgoing jurors, tour county facilities, meet with department heads, become familiar with their colleagues, learn about juror responsibilities and procedures, and select committees on which they will serve.

Grand jurors must be United States citizens, 18 or older, and residents of Contra Costa County for at least one year prior to selection. They cannot currently hold any elected position within the county. Applicants must have reliable transportation to Martinez and be prepared to devote at least 20 hours per week to Civil Grand Jury service. Prospective jurors should apply only if they can be released from their jobs to perform the jury duties. The 30 nominees will be fingerprinted before the drawing.

Jurors receive a stipend for attending full jury and committee meetings and are reimbursed for allowable jury travel. Martinez parking permits are provided for jurors performing Grand Jury duties.

The application deadline is Friday, April 13. To apply or receive additional information, call the Office of the Civil Grand Jury at 925-957-5638 or visit www.cc-courts.orq/qrandiury.