Civil Grand Jury Application

You must be:

• 18 years of age or older.
• A U.S. citizen who speaks and writes English.
• A resident of Sonoma County for at least one year prior to selection.

You may not:

• Currently be an elected official.
• Have been convicted of malfeasance in office.
• Have been convicted of a felony or other high crime.

• One year.
• 10 or more hours per week for one investigative committee.
• 20 or more hours per week for two or more investigative committees.

Serving on the Civil Grand Jury is a rewarding, high-impact experience. An applicant should:

• Be interested in improving how local government works.
• Be a good listener who can ask thoughtful questions.
• Understand the importance of keeping information confidential.
• Understand the importance of cooperation and compromise.
• Have basic computer skills.

Complete the online Civil Grand Jury application form.

Upon completion and submission of the application, you will receive an email confirming that your application has been received.

You will be updated on dates and times for personal interviews and the official orientation.

Applications are available from January through early May.

Please do not contact the current Civil Grand Jury with questions or for assistance.

Direct all questions to the Superior Court at info@sonomacourt.com.

Superior Court judges will review the applications. If your application has been approved for consideration, you will be contacted and scheduled for an interview with a Superior Court judge.

Following a successful interview, names will be placed into a random drawing to select 19 jurors and 9 to 11 alternates. An alternate is an applicant who receives training with the 19 jurors but does not actively serve on the jury until a juror withdraws. The selection of the jurors and alternates is called the “empanelment” and takes place on the last Wednesday of June. During this ceremony, the current jurors are dismissed and the new jurors are sworn in.

If you are selected as a juror or as an alternate, you will serve for a one-year term beginning on July 1.

After being sworn in, jurors and alternates receive training on:

• Civil Grand Jury legal responsibilities
• Local governments
• Investigation processes
• Report-writing techniques