Give Thanks By Signing Up for Grand Jury Duty

On this day when we’re counting our blessings, I’ve got an idea for how to say thanks--besides eating until you turn blue. It will take a year of your life, but you’ll get $25 a day--and free parking.

I’ve got an idea for how corporations can give thanks too . . .

Just about anywhere you go in Orange County--the park, the schools, the grocery store--you’ll run into someone with a different cultural background from yours. That’s one important reason why so many of us choose to raise our children here.

There’s one place, though, you rarely see the same kind of diversity as in everyday life. That would be the Orange County Grand Jury room.

Not to take anything away from the current grand jurors, who are donating a year of their lives to watchdogging the county for the rest of us. Bless ‘em for the effort. But it was disconcerting to see my colleague Meg James’ recent story that this year’s grand jury, like so many in the past, is all white--all 19 and even the 11 alternates.

Now Accepting Applications

Here’s a chance to change that. The county is taking inquiries now for the 2000-2001 grand jury, which goes into service next July 1. Applications will be taken until Jan. 31. Call this number for inquiries: (714) 834-6747. We hit a spell a few years ago where we reached some diversity on the grand jury. Three years ago even, one-third of the grand jurors were minorities. But it just hasn’t lasted.

Not that the judges are to blame. They advertise in non-English newspapers and reach out to community leaders who represent diverse ethnic groups. I’ve seen judges over the years go out of their way to encourage people of various backgrounds to apply for grand jury service.

Court administrator Alan Slater’s office sends out thousands of letters to churches, civic groups and others in hopes of convincing someone to apply for grand jury service. It hits on those who come in for daily jury duty too.

But the qualifications, and the job’s requirements, restrict many people who might love to take a crack at it.

Grand jurors have to serve an entire year, four days a week for up to six hours. You can sneak in a week’s vacation, but only if the other grand jurors say it won’t hold things up.

You also have to go through a pretty thorough application process. It’s not enough you want to serve. Even if you qualify--no criminal background, must speak and write good English--you might not make the cut. Judges give you marks during a personal interview, and those with the best scores are placed in the final pool.

A Diversified Effort

It’s understandable that applicants are mostly retirees, who have the time to donate. But there’s no reason, says Superior Court Judge C. Robert Jameson, why the process should exclude anybody by race.

“I don’t know what the answer is,” Jameson said, “but we’re going to do some things to try to improve grand jury diversification.”

As incoming assistant presiding judge, Jameson is now in charge of the grand jury. One of his ideas is to have two judges interview a prospective candidate instead of just one. That way you won’t be penalized if you get a judge who by nature tends to give low scores. When the 17 judges on his grand jury committee meet next Monday, Jameson plans to tell them he’s increasing their numbers by about four, to make sure he has enough interviewers.

Jameson also hopes to increase judicial appearances in areas of the county with high minority population. He was pleased that a Vietnamese-language newspaper this week ran a large story--not just an ad--about the need for a more diverse grand jury.

But selling the public on such a whopping commitment, says administrator Slater, “Is a tough job. We’re very much dependent on community leaders to help us make the panel represent the county’s diversity.”

Most grand jurors will tell you it was great experience. Though you do make a few decisions on criminal cases, the grand jury’s primary function is to research issues and write reports watchdogging local government.

They often shed light on issues that sometimes get overlooked, like finding shelter for the homeless, or taking a look at long-term rail plans.

Something that important, we ought to have just about every corner of the county pitching in on it.

Here’s one idea that might help, though Slater had to break the news to me that my idea is not original:

Why can’t corporations, or other major employers, pay the salary of an employee who might want to serve on the grand jury?

Slater says both the Fluor Corp. and Disneyland have done that very thing in the past, as a public service. But such contributions are sporadic.

“We’d love to see it,” Slater said. “if more would just do it.”

Well, why not? Couldn’t someone the size of, let’s say the city of Anaheim, or St. Joseph Health System, get along for one year with just one less employee? Especially for something so important?

Slater reports that inquiries so far are up, which might help. But it’s a long stretch from seeking an application to actually filling one out--only about one-third follow up.

It’s going to take an extraordinary effort on somebody’s part to change the grand jury’s make-up. Might as well start with Thanksgiving.

Jerry Hicks’ column appears Monday and Thursday. Readers may reach Hicks by calling (714) 564-1049 or e-mail tojerry.hicks@latimes.com.