Posted by SteveC
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on Oct 11, 2016 at 1:06 pm
SteveC is a registered user.

What is the expertise of the Civil Grand Juriors? Is this another area that has out lived there usefulness. Reccomends, no authority to take any kind of actions.

Posted by Apple
a resident of Atherton: other
on Oct 11, 2016 at 4:16 pm

@SteveC

Civil grand juries can be thought of as another branch of the fourth estate. They provide oversight of government operations by the People. This right is enshrined in the California Constitution.

And just like the press, civil grand juries have no authority to take action. Since grand jury members are unelected, we don't necessarily want their recommendations to have the force of law. They can only report their findings to the public. It is then up to the public to demand change if change is desired.

This is a government of checks of balances. We usually think of it in terms of executive, legislative, and judicial branches checking each other. However, there exists checks and balances among the central state government, county governments, and people.