The Honorable Brian C. Walsh, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara has extended the application deadline for the 2013-14 Civil Grand Jury to Friday, March 22, 2013.
An arm of the Superior Court, the Civil Grand Jury serves as the County’s top, civil watchdog agency to ensure accountability of public funds. The Civil Grand Jury is empowered to inspect and audit the books, records, and financial expenditures of all aspects of county and city government and special/school districts. The Civil Grand Jury also has the power to inspect jails and juvenile detention facilities.
“Civil Grand Juries are the cornerstones of democracy that ensure county and local government are wholly accountable to the people they serve,” said Walsh. “Civil Grand Jury service offers everyday citizens a unique opportunity to contribute to the efficiency of local government and to hold elected and appointed officials accountable for the use of our precious tax dollars.”
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, United States citizens, and residents of Santa Clara County. The one-year term will begin on June 27, 2013. The time commitment is approximately 20-25 hours per week, with work hours set by the jury itself.
“We are incredibly committed to selecting a group of citizens who represent Santa Clara’s diverse community. Because the Civil Grand Jury looks at all aspects of government, we need a deep bench of knowledge – everything from construction to finance – and are looking for a mixed set of skills and abilities. But most importantly, we are looking for civic mindedness, strong ethics and commonsense,” said PWalsh.
Persons interested in applying may contact Gloria Alicia Chacón at the Office of the Civil Grand Jury (408) 882-2722 or may visit the Court website at www.scscourt.org (click on Civil Grand Jury to obtain an application online).
The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 22, 2013.
