Civil Grand Jury
About the Grand Jury
The grand jury has two basic civil functions:
1. Weigh the allegations of misconduct against public officials; and
2. Act as the public’s “watchdog” by investigating and reporting upon various matters of county, city and special district governments.
In part, the grand jury’s powers and duties are as follows:
- Investigate the operations, accounts, and records of county government.
- Investigate the operations, accounts, and records of any incorporated city or joint powers agency located within the county.
- Investigate the books, records, and methods of any special-purpose assessing or taxing district located within the county.
- Investigate and report on the need for increasing or decreasing salaries of county-elected officials.
- Study the report of the previous grand jury to review and measure prior recommendations for improvement.
- Read letters from citizens or agencies and make inquiries and recommendations about those matters referred to the grand jury.
- Inquire into the condition and management of the detention facilities located within the county.
In order to selected as a grand juror, a person must possess the following qualifications:
- Must be a citizen of the U.S.A
- Must be a resident of California and the county for at least one year immediately preceding selection.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must possess “natural faculties, of ordinary intelligence, and of sound judgment.”
- Must possess sufficient knowledge of the English language.
Interested parties are encouraged to access and fill out the questionnaire/application form at the following link:
Grand Jury Questionnaire-Application
Completed forms can be submitted electronically to cgj@sanbenito.courts.ca.gov or by mail to:
Superior Court
450 Fourth Street
Hollister, CA 95023