Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury Needs Applicants

Press release from the Humboldt County Superior Court:

Grand jury iconHumboldt County Superior Court distributed a press release on April 26th to request interested members of our local community to submit applications for the 2023/2024 Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury. However, to date we have not received enough applications to proceed with our normal member selection process and timeline. We implore more members of our community to please apply to serve as a member in order for the important work of the civil grand jury – to investigate and review citizen complaints concerning the operations of city and county government as well as other tax supported and non-profit agencies and districts – to continue without interruption.  

Based on the Civil Grand Jury’s reviews, they publish reports of its findings and may recommend constructive action to improve the quality and effectiveness of local government, which benefits our local community and county. The Humboldt Superior Court empanels 19 citizens to act as an independent body of the judicial system each year. The Humboldt County civil grand jury is seeking applicants for fiscal year 2023/2024 (term: July 1-June 30). The Court also encourages citizens to apply and serve as alternates if and when vacancies occur during the FY term of service. The Civil Grand Jury is currently meeting both in-person and occasionally via Zoom. The weekly time commitment ranges from 10-30 hours. 

The civil grand jury does not consider criminal indictments, and members cannot be serving as an elected public official. 

For more information and the application process, please complete and submit a fillable application on the Court’s web site at: https://www.humboldt.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/grand-jury-questionnaire rev-5-21-fillable.pdf or contact Administration at 269-1245. You may also request an application, complete/download, and email an application by emailing: [email protected]. Or you may return a completed paper application to Jury Services in Room G03 (4th Street entrance). Thank you for your interest and support of our local community!  

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12 Comments
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Mr. BearD
Member
Mr. Bear
9 months ago

Broken link to the application

Lisa Music
Admin
9 months ago
Reply to  Mr. Bear

Fixed now, thank you.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
9 months ago

I always find the Grand Jury reports to be interesting. They used to be a very powerful tool to keep public services working correctly and effectively. Bad marks from the jury would bring the wrath of the electorate down on he offending department. Nowadays, not so much. Agencies treat them like just another nuisance, and about as effective as the average blog comment. Including this one.

Our government is out of control and has become autonomous. It will take more that a bad Grand Jury report it bring back to government by the people. Humboldt County government is not as bad as most other counties But, it still leaves a lot of room for frustrations.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
9 months ago

Boy, was that last paragraph a tossed word salad. I fired my proof reader.

Guest
Guest
Guest
9 months ago

IDK seemed coherent enough.

Mr. Clark
Member
Mr. Clark
9 months ago

can we indict Newsome?

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
9 months ago
Reply to  Mr. Clark

I don’t think a lot of people know the difference between a Civil Grand Jury and a Criminal Grand jury.
(Google)
What is Civil Grand Jury?
Every year, in each of California’s 58 counties, a group of ordinary citizens takes an oath to serve as grand jurors. Its function is to investigate the operations of the various officers, departments and agencies of local government.

What is a Criminal Grand Jury
Is used by the prosecution as an alternative to a preliminary hearing.
The Criminal Grand Jury is selected periodically by the presiding judge of the Court. Nineteen grand jurors and three alternates are chosen and are required to serve for a maximum of six indictment hearings or one fiscal year, whichever comes first.
An indictment is an accusatory pleading and not a finding of guilt. It is based on a standard of proof consisting of strong suspicion or probable cause as opposed to “proof beyond reasonable doubt” which is required for a conviction in a court trial. If an indictment is found, the defendant is then entitled to a jury trial in the Superior Court where guilt must be determined beyond a reasonable doubt by a different jury or a judge.
The Criminal Grand Jury is separate from the Civil Grand Jury.

Kym Kemp
Admin
9 months ago

Ernie, I have no idea why you are being held for moderation. It is extremely frustrating.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
9 months ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Hey, I’m married, I’m used to waiting for moderation.
Also, you are probably wise to moderate my comments with great scrutiny.

Last edited 9 months ago
The Real Guest
Guest
The Real Guest
9 months ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Inadvertent slight email change?

Sometimes I accidentally add a bit to my info…

Kym Kemp
Admin
9 months ago
Reply to  The Real Guest

Once I approve the new version, if that was the case, then he would be off moderation. But for some reason he is on permanently now–as is ThatGuyinArcata. It’s driving me nuts.

Frank Pembleton
Guest
Frank Pembleton
9 months ago

I would love to do it, but that 10-30 hour commitment is a little much.