Opinion: S.D. County Civil Grand Jury lets you be a citizen watchdog – San Diego Union-Tribune

Ordinary citizens can make an extraordinary difference in how local government works. One way is by serving on the San Diego County Civil Grand Jury.

Each year, the Superior Court appoints 19 local citizens to independently investigate, evaluate and report on the actions of government agencies throughout San Diego County. That includes the county of San Diego and its 18 cities, as well as school districts, special districts and other public agencies located within the county’s boundaries.

Think of the civil grand jury as a citizen watchdog.

Unlike a criminal grand jury, which considers whether to issue criminal indictments, a civil grand jury examines the operations of public agencies. Jurors review records, conduct interviews, research issues, identify problems and recommend improvements.

You don’t have to be an activist or a government expert to apply.  What is needed are civic-minded people with curiosity, critical-thinking skills and a willingness to ask difficult questions, challenge the status quo, and look for ways government can serve the public more effectively, efficiently and transparently.

Training is provided. Local government leaders make presentations to the grand jury about their operations, while the California Grand Jurors Association and former grand jurors provide guidance on procedures and the investigative process.

So, what do grand jurors actually investigate?

Each grand jury decides which subjects it will examine. Topics can come from news reports, jurors’ interests or expertise, previous grand jury reports, or concerns submitted by members of the public.  Anyone can request that a particular issue be investigated by completing a form on the grand jury’s website.

Recent grand jury investigations have examined subjects as diverse as wildfire preparedness, cybersecurity in local school districts, civilian oversight of law enforcement, the Gaslamp Enforcement Team, cannabis regulation, homeless services, the death rate in county jails and psychiatric emergency response teams.

Once the grand jury votes to open an investigation, it assigns the matter to a committee. Committee members request documents, examine evidence, conduct research and interview department heads, program administrators, employees, board members, complainants, subject-matter experts and others with knowledge of the issues.

Those interviews are confidential. By law, both interviewees and jurors are prohibited from revealing who was interviewed, the subject of the investigation or the questions asked and answers given. That confidentiality allows people to speak openly and honestly without fear of retribution.

When an investigation is completed, the grand jury issues a formal report containing facts, findings and recommendations. After the report becomes public, the responsible government officials generally must respond in writing within 90 days.

Agencies are not required to implement every recommendation. They must, however, respond to the grand jury’s findings and recommendations. If an agency disagrees with a finding or chooses not to implement a recommendation, it must explain why.

Serving on a grand jury is a major time commitment. Grand jurors are expected to devote about six hours a day, Monday through Thursday, for 12 months beginning July 1. Although it is a volunteer position, jurors receive a daily stipend of $25, mileage reimbursement and a reserved parking space at the grand jury’s downtown San Diego office.

The reward is a rare opportunity for ordinary citizens to take a close look at how their government operates and to recommend meaningful improvements.

If you are curious about how local government works, willing to ask tough questions and interested in making your community better, consider applying. You must be a U.S. citizen of at least 18 years of age, be a resident of San Diego County for a year or more, be fluent in English, and possess intelligence, sound judgment and be of fair character. The Superior Court is looking for citizens from a diverse range of backgrounds, professions, life experiences and perspectives.

Applications open in November and are accepted through January. Current grand jurors and Superior Court judges interview applicants and determine the final nominees. The grand jurors and alternates are then selected through a random drawing in June.

To apply or for more information, visit sandiegocounty.gov/grandjury.

Spencer was selected by the presiding judge of the San Diego County Superior Court to serve as foreperson of the 2026-27 civil grand jury. He is a San Diego resident and a retired fire chief from Northern California.