The selection process for the 2013-2014 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury has started.  Anyone interested in serving on the Civil Grand Jury may contact the Grand Jury Office at 558-7766 or go on line at www.stanct.org to download an application.  The deadline for applications is April 30.

All persons who qualify to serve on the grand jury will be interviewed by Presiding Judge of the Superior Court Loretta Begen, Assistant Presiding Judge Nan Cohan Jacobs, and the Court Executive Officer.  From the individuals interviewed, Judge Begen will select 30 finalists; from these 30 names, the 19-member panel Civil Grand Jury and four alternates will be selected in open court by a random selection process.

Civil Grand Jurors must meet the same qualifications as a trial juror.  The term of office for a grand juror is one year (July 1 to June 30).  Grand jurors must be available at least 20 hours per month.  The primary function of the Civil Grand Jury is to act as the public "watchdog" by investigating and reporting upon the affairs of local governmental agencies, including County and City government, special districts and school districts.