It’s nearly impossible to find out who is representing the people on the grand jury. The only method I’m aware of is obtaining FPPC conflict of interest filings. By law, jurors are required to disclose property, income, and business interests.
This year, I obtained 17 filings (one juror failed to file). Not a single juror disclosed even one financial interest! Dubious, among 18 mostly retirees.
In fact, grand jurors committed perjury. Public business and property records indicate many jurors have multiple financial interests. I intend to file complaints against individual jurors if honest disclosures are not filed by the new year.
The grand jury purports to investigate and report on the rectitude of local government? They don’t even confront the lawful responsibilities of their office ethically!
Furthermore, are there any Latinos or blacks on the jury? No. Does the jury represent a slice of each community? No. I don’t have space for that here, but the public should know.
Kevin P. Rice – San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Dec 21-31, 2017.
Oh, brother. The Grand Jury relies on volunteers and, with the time commitment required, its membership is weighed heavily toward retirees. Look at criminal and civil juries: People with financial hardships typically are excluded, and that means that those juries, too, are weighted toward those available to serve. As for financial filings, there are interests and then there are “reportable” interests. The average homeowner has nothing he or she is required to report. The civil Grand Jury system is flawed, to be sure: We ask people to pass judgment on things about which they know little. Sounds like you’d be right for the job, Kevin, because you do this regularly.