DOES THE GRAND JURY MEET IN SECRET?
By law, all meetings of the Grand Jury are in secret, except that legal counsel is generally invited to be present. When the Grand Jury meets to consider indictments, even legal counsel is excluded. IS THERE ANYTHING THE GRAND JURY CANNOT DO? YES, the Grand Jury cannot: • Serve as an appellate body to the courts; • Make changes in government. It can only make recommendations to the courts and to the Board of Supervisors WHAT DOES THE GRAND JURY DO WITH THE MATERIAL IT GATHERS? Each year the Grand Jury prepares a final report that is delivered to the Court the day the succeeding Grand Jury takes office. On some issues it prepares “interim reports” so that it may receive responses prior to the date it leaves office and receives optimum coverage in the press. The final report is officially delivered to the Superior Court, the Board of Supervisors, all County agencies and departments and the press. The Board of Supervisors by law must answer the report, in writing, within 90 days. Elected
