Too Few Willing to Serve

Superior Court Judge Myron S. Brown has hung the Help Wanted sign outside of the Orange County Grand Jury room. He’s looking for jurors for the new 1987-88 grand jury panel that will begin its one-year term July 1.

The response thus far hasn’t been good, but that’s not the judge’s fault.

The grand jury panel has 19 members, selected by lot from a pared-down final list of 30 applicants. The jury’s main mission is to serve as a watchdog of local government, auditing its operations to guard against inefficiency and political corruption. To get the best possible field of candidates, Judge Brown sent letters to more than 1,700 business and community organizations and elected officials, seeking interested residents.

The dismal response to date is only about 60 applications. That’s barely half of what’s usually needed to find the final 30 candidates who are not only willing and qualified to serve, but can provide a cross-section of the community to give the jury a balanced makeup.

The jury historically has lacked that balance. Its panels have been made up mostly of older, more affluent, retired men. Women jurors are often homemakers. Noticeably missing have been younger people and minorities--the diversity that residents ought to want in their grand juries.

One problem in attracting that diversity is the time required for grand jury service. It’s almost a full-time job, taking up at least four days a week for the entire year. Many people have trouble finding that time, although more companies are beginning to allow time for such civic duties.

The grand jury needs more applicants. But more than that it needs applicants with different backgrounds to bring a variety of views and perspectives to the vital job of monitoring local government.

The deadline for applying at the jury commissioner’s office (700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana) is Jan. 20. The pay is low and the work is demanding. But for those fortunate enough to serve, it makes a most rewarding experience.