Assistant Presiding Judge Kirk Nakamura, who chairs the Grand Jury Recruitment/Selection Committee, said, “I encourage Orange County residents to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to work behind-the-scenes to improve Orange County.” He added, “I especially encourage residents of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, Placentia, Santa Ana, and Westminster to apply as these cities, located in Orange County Supervisorial Districts One and Four, historically provide fewer applicants.” What Does the Grand Jury Do?  Investigates the performance of county, city, and other local agencies  Analyzes data and writes reports with recommendations for improvement  Looks into citizen complaints about local government agencies  Decides on indictments for some criminal cases  Verifies that local tax dollars are spent wisely  Examines conditions at local jails The new 19-member Grand Jury will be impaneled on June 30, 2017, to start its one-year term.

Grand Jury members attend tours and briefings to increase their knowledge of the workings of county agencies to help them assess potential problems. Grand Jury reports from past civil investigations are posted online at www.ocgrandjury.org/reports.asp. Superior Court judges review applications and interview qualified applicants. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department conducts background investigations on top candidates.

Selection of the 19- member Grand Jury is achieved by a random drawing of the top to candidates who are nominated and confirmed by Orange County Superior Court judges to proportionally represent each of the five Orange County Supervisorial Districts, as required by law. The remaining candidates are chosen as alternates to serve in place of members who cannot complete the term for any reason. An application form and more information are available online at www.ocgrandjury.org, by calling the Grand Jury Hotline at 657-622-6747, or at the Jury Commissioner’s Office, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, 92701.

The current stipend for Grand Jury service is $50 per day plus mileage reimbursement. To qualify for service, you must be a resident of Orange County for at least one year, a United States citizen, at least 18 years old, in possession of sound judgment and good character, and have a sufficient knowledge of English. If you meet these requirements, you are encouraged to apply by Friday, January 20, 2017. Superior Court of California County of Orange News Release Public Information Office Contact: Gwen Vieau, 657-622-7097 PIO@occourts.org