Grand Jury

The privilege of serving as a Civil Grand Juror comes with many rewards including the satisfaction of making a worthwhile contribution to improving the lives of El Dorado County residents.

 

Civil Grand Jury Flyer(PDF, 189KB)

 

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Now Accepting Applications to Serve as a Civil Grand Juror for 2026-2027

What is the Civil Grand Jury?

The Civil Grand Jury is an investigative body made up of citizens with the authority to act as a watchdog on local government and investigate citizen complaints.  The Civil Grand Jury operates under the authority of the Superior Court of El Dorado County and can access public officials, employees' records, and information. It is completely independent and is not controlled by any agency it investigates. The Civil Grand Jury is not a Criminal Grand Jury. California is the only state that requires every county to have a Civil Grand Jury. (See California Penal Code Section 905).

Civil Grand Jurors come from many backgrounds and bring different skills and experiences. They share a commitment to helping their community and strengthening local government. All qualified people are encouraged to apply for Civil Grand Jury service. (See Apply to Join).

Each Civil Grand Jury determines which officers, departments, and agencies to investigate during their term of office. On occasion, a Civil Grand Jury may assist in criminal matters at the request of the District Attorney.

Grand jurors are sworn to secrecy, and, other than final reports, their work is kept strictly confidential. The reports released by the Civil Grand Jury are the result of investigations.

The Civil Grand Jury gets help from several legal advisors:

• A Superior Court Judge
• The District Attorney
• The County Counsel
• The California Attorney General (in certain cases)

What Does a Civil Grand Jury Do?

A Civil Grand Jury’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Investigating and reporting on local government operations
• Inspecting county detention facilities
• Reviewing the operations, accounts, and records of county and local agencies
• Evaluating and responding to citizen complaints
• Submitting a final report of findings and recommendations to the Presiding Judge by the end of its term

During investigations, the Civil Grand Jury gathers facts, checks whether agencies are following the law, and evaluates whether services are being provided effectively, efficiently, and responsibly. While it cannot force agencies to follow its recommendations, its written reports are a powerful tool for change.

How Does a Civil Grand Jury Operate?

The Civil Grand Jury works as an independent entity. Each jury decides for itself, by a super majority vote of the jurors, which agencies or officials are investigated. Civil Grand Jury investigations usually begin with:

• Citizen complaints
• Concerns raised by grand jurors
• Complaints referred from the previous year’s grand jury

Confidentiality

In all its proceedings and investigations, the Civil Grand Jury is sworn to maintain complete secrecy. All information obtained during an investigation remains confidential unless it is used in a published report.