Jury Q&A / CIVIL GRAND JURY
Each year, prior to March 1st, every Superior Court judicial officer in Los Angeles County may nominate two persons who he or she deems qualified to serve as grand jurors. Interested citizens may also apply as volunteers by obtaining a Civil Grand Jury packet from the Grand Jury Office located at 210 West Temple Street, Los Angeles or via this site. Applications are accepted on a year-round basis. A member of the Grand Jurors Committee interviews each volunteer applicant. The interviewing judge then assigns a qualification rating to each volunteer interviewed. Once the interview process is completed, the volunteers' application forms are then circulated among the Superior Court judges for possible nomination.
It is the goal of the judicial officers to nominate persons representing the cultural, ethnic, and diverse life experiences of the residents in the County of Los Angeles in order that the Grand Jury may reflect the many interests and concerns of its citizens.
From a final list of persons nominated by the judges, forty names and a designated number of alternates are selected by lottery. After these people have been screened by law enforcement agencies, a second drawing takes place and the final twenty-three jurors and a designated number of alternates are drawn. During the first week of July, the selected twenty-three and alternates are sworn in and given a description of their duties and responsibilities by the supervising judge of the Superior Court Criminal Division and their legal advisor, County Counsel.
The twenty-three Civil Grand Jurors and alternates are required to complete financial disclosure forms, in compliance with California Government Code Sections 81000-91015.
For the Civil Grand Jury application forms, go to Jury Forms.