Local News in Brief : Jury Seeks Volunteers

With one week left for receipt of applications for service on the Los Angeles County Grand Jury, Superior Court officials have put out a call for volunteers--with an emphasis on finding members of minority groups to serve on the body.

U.S. citizens at least 18 years old and county residents for at least one year are eligible, but Presiding Judge Jack Goertzen said the hope is to find more Latinos, blacks and Asians, groups that have been under-represented in past years.

Twenty-three people will be chosen to serve from among hundreds of volunteers and nominees of the court’s 224 judges, and will receive small stipends for their services. The yearlong duty is a full-time assignment, with jurors working up to five days a week.

Applications, available from the Superior Court Juror Services office in the Hall of Records downtown, must be postmarked or returned by 5 p.m. on Nov. 20.