The Orange County Superior Court is looking for qualified volunteers to serve on the 2018-2019 Grand Jury. The 19-member Grand Jury will take the official oath of office on June 29, 2018 for a one-year term.
The Grand Jury’s responsibilities include: Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Date: June 13, 2017
*Allegations characterized by the Orange County Grand Jury as “witch-hunt”
OCDA is addressing only the parts of the report pertaining to the Office and defers inquiries regarding the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County Grand Jury’s (OCGJ) report released today entitled “The Myth of the Orange County Jailhouse Informant Program,” confirms the steadfast position of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) both in court and in the media regarding informant matters. The OCGJ debunked the media “witch-hunt” for agency corruption, in examining People v. Dekraai and People v. Wozniak.
“The OCGJ is confident there is no program of jailhouse informant use for criminal investigation in the Orange County jails.” (p. 19). Furthermore, the OCGJ found that “Allegations of intentional motivation by a corrupt district attorney’s office … to violate citizen’s constitutional rights are unfounded. Disparate facts have been woven together and a combination of conjecture and random events have been juxtaposed to create a tenuous narrative insinuating nefarious intent. That narrative does not stand up to factual validation.” (p. 5)
Key points and findings include: Continue reading
Court Extends Grand Jury Application Deadline to February 1
Santa Ana, CA – Hon. Kirk Nakamura, Assistant Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court and chair of the Grand Jury Recruitment and Selection Committee, announced today that the Court has extended the deadline to apply to serve on the next Grand Jury to February 1, 2017 due to a shortage of applicants.
Judge Nakamura said, “By law, the Court must impanel a 19-member Grand Jury each fiscal year to serve a one-year term. It is difficult to attract qualified individuals from all areas of Orange County who can devote 30 to 35 hours per week for this unique community service opportunity.” Panelists receive a $50 per day stipend, reimbursement for mileage, and reserved onsite parking at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, where they meet. Continue reading
Superior Court of California County of Orange
News Release: October 3, 2016
Contact: Gwen Vieau, 657-622-7097, PIO@occourts.org
Apply Now to Be a Grand Juror!
Santa Ana, CA – The Superior Court of Orange County seeks qualified individuals to serve on the next Orange County Grand Jury. 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? Continue reading
Serve on the Next OC Grand Jury
The Orange County Superior Court seeks OC residents to serve on the next Orange County Grand Jury. The deadline to apply is January 22, 2016, and the one-year term is scheduled to begin July 2, 2016.
Members receive a $50 per day stipend as well as mileage reimbursement. Continue reading
Orange County Grand Jury
Deadline to Apply for Grand Jury Service Extended to January 30, 2015
By OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Portions courtesy of Superior Court of California
Assistant Presiding Judge Charles Margines of the Superior Court of Orange County and chair of Grand Jury Recruitment/Selection Committee has extended the deadline to apply for Grand Jury service to January 30, 2015.
The Grand Jury performs civil oversight of local government by reviewing and evaluating county and city agencies, jails, schools, and special districts within Orange County and writes a final report with its findings and recommendations. The Grand Jury also considers evidence for possible indictment of individuals in felony cases and reviews complaints submitted by citizens. Continue reading
OC Grand Jury applications are now being accepted
By OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer
(Portions courtesy of the Orange County Superior Court)
The Orange County Superior Court is now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 Orange County Grand Jury. A new 19-member Grand Jury will be empaneled for a one-year term that begins July 1.
As mandated by the California Constitution, the Grand Jury has three basic functions: weighing criminal charges and determining whether indictments should be returned; weighing any allegations of misconduct against public officials to determine whether to present formal accusations requesting their removal from office; and acting as the public’s “watchdog” by investigating and reporting on the affairs of local government. Most of the Grand Jury panel’s time is spent performing civil oversight of local government by reviewing and evaluating county and city agencies, schools, and special districts within the county. Continue reading
Superior Court Urgently Seeks Grand Jury Applicants
By: Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer, (Portions Courtesy of the Superior Court)
The Superior Court in Orange County urgently seeks Grand Jury applicants for the one-year term that begins July 1, 2014. Applicants are especially needed from the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, Placentia, and Westminster. The selection of the 19-member Grand Jury panel is achieved by a random drawing of 25-30 candidates nominated for service, to equally represent each of the five Orange County Supervisorial Districts as required by law. Grand jurors receive a stipend and reimbursement for mileage. Continue reading