ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : A Grand Duty

Orange County court officials are taking the right path in trying to increase the diversity of the county grand jury. They are wise to cast the net for grand jurors, especially minorities, as wide as possible.

The grand jury whose term ended July 1 caused a furor when it called for a nationwide ban on immigration--legal and illegal--and tried to put a price tag on services to those in the county illegally. The panel’s report became part of a tide of immigrant bashing that unfortunately recurs when economic times turn hard.

The report also caused scrutiny of the makeup of the grand jury, composed of 17 whites and only two Latinos. That’s far out of line with the ethnic character of Orange County, which in recent years has seen a steady increase in the number of minorities, especially Latinos and Asians.

Grand juries investigate numerous issues of importance to the county, from the quality of health care its citizens receive to the effectiveness of government agencies. The panels must be as representative of the county as possible.

Top court officials, who impanel and assist the grand jurors, plan next week to launch their largest effort yet to seek panelists for the 1994-95 session. The recruiters showed they learned a good lesson when they sought the help of minority community organizations in the county to get their members to sign up.

Those groups must urge grand jury duty for their members. It’s a voluntary job, but it’s important, and the county needs a panel that reflects its diversity.