- The Civil Grand Jury
is a judicial body composed of 19 citizens. It is impaneled to act as an "arm
of the court," as authorized by the State Constitution, to be a voice
of the people and conscience of the community.
The present Grand Jury
system evolved from earlier ecclesiastical courts beginning in 1164 when Henry
II of England impaneled the first 16-man Grand Jury to remove criminal indictments
from the hands of the church. In 1635 the first American Grand Jury was impaneled
in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and by 1638 Grand Juries were present in all
the colonies. These early Grand Juries began the practice of returning "presentments,"
which were primarily against public officials and different from criminal
indictments.
Forty-two states have
some form of Grand Jury. California is still one of the states that allows
prosecution to be initiated by either a Criminal Grand Jury indictment or
judicial preliminary hearing. California impanels County Civil Grand Juries
every year to conduct civil investigations of county and city government and
to hear evidence to make recommendations or to decide whether to return indictments.
In San Mateo County, if indictments need to be made, a separate criminal grand
jury is impaneled.
- The San Mateo County
Civil Grand Jury is an independent investigative body created by the
California State Constitution. Composed of nineteen citizens, the San Mateo
County Civil Grand Jury serves as a "watchdog for citizens of the county."
A Civil Grand Jury is
charged with a grave responsibility. The Civil Grand Jury serves as an ombudsperson
for the citizens of San Mateo County. The jury may receive and investigate
complaints by individuals regarding the actions or performances of county
or public officials. The attention of the entire county is centered upon an
active Civil Grand Jury, and its every act is a matter of public interest.
Malevolent and unfaithful public servants are uneasy, while honest citizens
and the conscientious public servants are reassured. Therefore, Grand Jury
service calls for diligence, impartiality, courage and responsibility.
Empowered by the state
judicial system, the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury submits meaningful
solutions to a wide range of problems. The San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury
is a volunteer, fact finding body with the potential to recommend constructive
changes.
Grand Jury work is demanding.
Rewards for Grand Jury service come mostly from increased knowledge of local
government, the judicial system, and the satisfaction of making a worthwhile
contribution to the improvement of San Mateo County government operations.
