FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

01-27-10 805AM

Citizens interested in serving on the 2010-11 Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury must submit applications by April 15. The Grand Jury is made up of 19 members and serves for one year, July through June, to monitor, review and report on city and county governments and special districts.

“Grand juries are the citizen watchdogs of civic functions,” said current Grand Jury Foreperson Ronald Tervelt. “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. After interviews, the judges nominate approximately 30 applicants to constitute a grand jury pool, from which the final panel of 19 will be selected by random drawing. The drawing is scheduled to be held Friday, June 18. The 2010-11 Grand Jury members are sworn in on the same day.

Those selected for service will be expected to be available primarily on Tuesdays through Thursdays during the last two weeks of June in order 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 citizens of the United States, 18 years of age 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 should be in good health, have reliable transportation to Martinez, and be prepared to spend at least 20 hours per week on Grand Jury business.

Citizens who work should apply only if they can be released from their jobs to perform the jury duties. An applicant selected as one of 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.

Application forms may be obtained by sending a written request and self- addressed envelope to the Office of the Grand Jury Commissioner, P.O. Box 911, Martinez, CA 94553 or online at www.cc-courts.org/grandjury. Additional information regarding service on the Contra Costa Grand Jury may be obtained online at www.cc-courts.org/grandjury or by calling 925-957-5600.

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