Sign up for San Francisco's Civil Grand Jury!
Transparency is one of the most important ways to hold our government accountable. Without knowing what the government is doing, and without people who are tasked with investigating the government’s power, money and resources are often spent in unwise or illegitimate ways.
What is a Civil Grand Jury?
In California, the state constitution empowers ordinary citizens to create this transparency through a unique mechanism called the Civil Grand Jury. While the concept of a criminal Grand Jury might be familiar to many people, the Civil Grand Jury’s purview is not to investigate criminal charges, but to investigate local government.
Every year, all 58 counties in California convene a Civil Grand Jury (henceforth called “the Jury”), which are made up of residents of that county. The members of the Jury then collectively decide which aspects of local government they would like to investigate, perform interviews with local government officials, and read through documents and reports to come to a conclusion about how well that aspect of government is performing.
What does a Civil Grand Jury do?
While convening a regular Jury for investigation is a good first start, the state constitution also gives the Jury a way to enforce its investigative power. When the Jury requests that members of local government appear as witnesses before the Jury, they are required to make themselves available. Though this mechanism is rarely used, the California Penal Code does give subpoena power to the Jury for such purposes. In addition, the Penal Code empowers the Jury to examine any internal records and documents from any local governmental agencies:
The grand jury may at any time examine the books and records of any incorporated city or joint powers agency located in the county. In addition to any other investigatory powers granted by this chapter, the grand jury may investigate and report upon the operations, accounts, and records of the officers, departments, functions, and the method or system of performing the duties of any such city or joint powers agency and make such recommendations as it may deem proper and fit.
At the end of its term, the Jury compiles the facts and evidence it has gathered through interviews, internal documents, and other resources, and issues one or more reports to the public. Each report includes official findings and recommendations of the Jury. This represents the culmination of all of the work during the Jury’s term, and lets the public know what they found, and how to make local government function better. Recommendations from each report are directed at specific government agencies, and again, the California Penal Code requires those agencies or departments, in addition to the Mayor, to respond to the findings and recommendations:
No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body, and every elected county officer or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility pursuant to Section 914.1 shall comment within 60 days to the presiding judge of the superior court, with an information copy sent to the board of supervisors, on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of that county officer or agency head and any agency or agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or controls. In any city and county, the mayor shall also comment on the findings and recommendations.
What have Civil Grand Juries accomplished?
Through these laws in California, the Jury has a significant amount of power to affect local government. And in many cases, counties make changes based on the recommendations of the Jury.
In February, legislation was introduced to overhaul the VTA, a transit agency in Santa Clara County, in response to a critical report issued by the Santa Clara Jury.
Here in San Francisco, the Jury issued a report on the neglected emergency firefighting infrastructure which would help prevent another catastrophe like the fires that ravaged San Francisco in 1906. In response, San Francisco put Proposition B on the March 2020 ballot, where it passed; Prop B allocated money to improving just that infrastructure.
These are just two examples of concrete ways that the Jury has tangibly affected local government.
How can I get on a Civil Grand Jury?
Because California’s Civil Grand Juries are made up of ordinary citizens, that means you could be a member of the upcoming term! Are you interested in learning in detail about how local government works? Would you like to hear directly from public officials about how they perform their jobs and why local programs and services are set up the way they are? Is bringing transparency and improvements to local government important to you? If so, then you should apply!
There are only a few requirements for being on the Jury:
You must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older.
You must be a resident of the county to which you are applying for at least one year.
You must have a working knowledge of English.
While there are no defined times or work requirements while serving on the Jury, you should generally expect to devote at least ten hours per week to Jury work.
As a Civil Grand Juror, you will fulfill your general jury requirements and be paid like ordinary jury service, for a maximum of $75 per week.
Are you interested? Different counties have different application deadlines for their Jury:
San Francisco’s Jury is accepting applications until May 14 here!
Alameda County accepts applications throughout the year here.
Santa Clara County will start accepting applications for the next term this summer.
San Mateo County’s deadline was April 30.
If you’re in a different California county, just do a web search for your county’s Civil Grand Jury to find the application form. We hope you’ll be inspired to apply!
Simone Manganelli is a member of the 2020-21 San Francisco Civil Grand Jury. His term expires on June 30, 2021.