Santa Cruz County residents are being encouraged to apply for the next Civil Grand Jury, a volunteer watchdog panel that investigates local government operations and issues public reports aimed at improving transparency and accountability.
The 2026–27 term begins July 1, with the Superior Court expected to begin reviewing applications and interviewing candidates in the coming months, according to a statement from Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Katherin Hansen, who oversees the county’s civil grand jury.
Each of California’s 58 counties is required to impanel a civil grand jury annually—the only state in the nation with such a system. Unlike criminal grand juries, the civil panel operates as an independent investigative body, reviewing local agencies, programs and policies. Its work is conducted confidentially, but findings and recommendations are released in public reports.
In Santa Cruz County, the panel typically includes 19 members and 11 alternates who serve one-year terms and contribute about 20 hours per week, depending on the scope of investigations.
“It’s an incredible sense of reward and satisfaction when you’re done,” said Santa Cruz resident Kim Horowitz, who served as foreperson during the 2023–24 term and returned as a juror the following year. “Being a grand juror is the one way that just kind of an ordinary citizen can do something that has a real impact on local government and how it operates.”
In addition, Horowitz said she made the connections she sought after retirement.
“You’ve made lifelong friends in the process,” she said. “There’s a group of us ladies that get together every week. So you definitely keep in touch with people. You have a real kind of bond that’s formed.”
The commitment can be substantial. Jurors often spend months examining complex issues ranging from jail operations to building permitting and how the county allocates voter-approved tax revenue.
“The number of hours that a juror spends depends on how many investigations they want to get involved in,” Horowitz said, adding that some participants underestimate the workload and leave before completing the term.
“They should go in with their eyes open,” she said. “It is a lot of work. It’s a big commitment.”
Still, Horowitz said the experience offers both civic impact and personal connection.
“You just feel a real sense of accomplishment and reward,” she said. “In addition to the fact that you’ve made lifelong friends in the process.”
Recent grand juries have tackled a wide range of topics. During the 2024–25 term, investigations included climate action efforts, the county’s building permit process, human trafficking and operations within the Health Services Agency. The previous year’s panel examined county road conditions, jail healthcare and reentry services, child protective services and housing policy in the city of Santa Cruz.
The Civil Grand Jury completed nine reports in Horowitz’s first year and six in the following term.
While agencies are required to formally respond to grand jury findings, they are not obligated to implement recommendations. That can be frustrating, Horowitz said, but public scrutiny often prompts change, because the reports go to the Board of Supervisors and the media.
This often results in the “grand jury effect,” when departments begin making improvements even before investigations are complete.
Hansen said the panel plays a key role in local governance.
“The purpose of the civil grand jury is to strengthen local government through careful oversight, investigations, and thoughtful recommendations,” she said in the statement.
Officials are seeking applicants who are collaborative, community-minded and interested in public service. No prior experience is required.
Information and application materials are available at bit.ly/4mbgQdT. Questions can be directed to hr****@************rt.org.
