MCCGJA NewsPage

2008-09 Jury Report

The 2008-2009 Marin County Civil Grand Jury has begun their term with a full schedule of orientation and training sessions, and tours of Marin’s detention facilities. Orientation and training was conducted by members of the Marin County Grand Jurors' Association, the California Grand Jurors' Association, and outgoing Grand Jurors, as well as Marin County Department Heads and staff.

New Foreperson Jeff Skov is very enthusiastic about the quality of experience and commitment of the new jury to tackle items of interest to the citizens of Marin County. He reports the new jury has been deeply immersed in getting to know each other, in training, and in getting organized. He promises more information next month.

Jury Composition

The new Jury consists of:

• 7 women, 12 men
• Age range:  59-81 (average, not median, age: 67.5)
• 5 retired lawyers
• 3 holdovers, plus one additional Grand Jury alumnus
• Total number of years in Marin:  706
• Residences: San Rafael 9; Tiburon, Greenbrae, and San Anselmo, 2 each; Belvedere, Mill Valley, Fairfax, and Stinson Beach, 1 each
• Birthplaces:  California 7; New York 3; Michigan 2; Illinois 2; and a smattering of other states
• Four jurors have pilots’ licenses, 2 are published authors.

Interesting to note, there are no Novatans this year. Last year there were 5.  The mix of lawyers and jury alumni ought to make for some interesting discussions…too bad we can’t all be the proverbial “flies on the wall”.

Orientation/Training

The MCCGJA orientation and training of the 2008-09 Marin Grand Jury took place on July 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17. All 19 jury members attended, as well as most of the alternates. The 6 days were a combination of presentations by former jurors and encounters with government officials from around the County.

It went smoothly; the jurors met and asked questions of the movers/shakers in Marin, including: the Hon. Verna Adams (Presiding Judge); Joe Spaeth (Public Defender); Peter Banning (LAFCO); Mathew Hymel (County Administrator); Joan Thayer Assessor); Kenneth Holmes (County Coroner); Michael Smith (County Clerk, Treasurer, etc.); Chris Godley (Office of Emergency Services); Bryon Karrow (Auditor’s office); Sheriff Bob Doyle; Jim Farley (Cultural Services); Dianne Steinhauser (Marin Transportation Authority); Farhad Mansourian (Department of Public Works); Dr. Larry Meredith (Health and Human Services); Charles McGlashan (President of the Board of Supervisors); Mary Jane Burke (Marin County Superintendent of Schools); Patrick Faulkner (County Counsel); Ted Freeman (Mayor of San Anselmo); and political pundit Dick Spotswood.

M.C. Irwin Taranto reports, “The orientation was quite normal; the schedule was maintained, and all speakers arrived on time.” He summarized, “While the findings and recommendations of all reports were not agreed with, the Grand Jury has the respect of local government officials.”

A huge thanks to Betty Mattea and the Orientation & Training Committee as well as chapter members involved in the orientation and training of the incoming jury, including: Irwin Taranto (M.C. and Organization); Roberta Robinson (Introductions); Karin Hern (GJ Law); Betty Mattea and Catherine McKown (Organization and Resources); Marty Miller (Investigations, Topics, Complaints); Connie Kloh (Report Writing); Karin Hern and Patrick Layne (Continuity); Roberta Robinson and Jan Gross (Interviewing); and a panel of former jurors led by (outgoing foreperson) Roberta Robinson, including Ken Howard, Anya Shandler, Ziad Hamdon, and Rick White.

Welcome Reception

Kudos to Ann Marie Melanephy for planning the Welcome Reception for the incoming jury; she did a wonderful job! The party was held on Wednesday, July 17, at the Club (McInnis Park) from 4-6 p.m. 

All Chapter members were invited.

Approximately 40 jurors, alternates and former jurors attended. Lots of fun, good food, and great company!

Next Members' Meetings

There will not be a Members' Meeting in August.

The next Members' Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 18, at 10:00 a.m. at Marin Joe's. Additional announcements will be sent out by e-mail.

September Presentation on November
Ballot Measures

Are you aware of the 12 ballot measures (as of this writing) we will be voting on November 4, 2008? According to an article written by John Wildermuth, Chronicle staff writer, “ . . . more than three-quarters of California’s likely voters are unaware of ballot measures . . . on the Fall ballot.”

To ensure our members are not among the unknowing voters, the Board is inviting The League of Women Voters to our September 18 Members' Meeting to give us an informed presentation about these propositions.

Membership Report

Membership Committee Chair Owen Haxton
reports that this year’s membership drive was conducted primarily by e-mail. The drive started at the beginning of April and ended July 31st, the deadline for renewing or joining members of CGJA, the state association, to be entitled to vote in this fall’s CGJA Board elections.

As of August 1, we have 70 Chapter members and 47 CGJA members. Chapter and CGJA membership by year of jury service is:

Message from President McKown on Membership

I encourage past jurors to join us and become a member of our Marin Chapter. We have exciting plans for the year ahead. Committees are now being formed, and our chapter can benefit from your talent and expertise. Those who are already chapter members, please invite others to join. We want to expand and provide stimulating and fun activities for everyone.

Join us at our first membership meeting on September 18 from 10-12 at Marin Joe's. The League of Women Voters of Marin will discuss the November ballot issues, and a short meeting will follow to include your input in our plans for the coming year. Afterward, join us for lunch and lively conversation.

Click here to go to our Membership Application.

Special Report: Marin County Civil Grand Jury Accomplishments

One of our new jurors recently asked, “In mentioning to some people that I'm serving on the Grand Jury this year, I've run into naysayers who say, ‘Well, you meet and meet, and talk and talk, and advise and advise, and everything still stays the same.’ I'd like some rebuttal ammo, please. What concrete, quantifiable and specific changes can you point to that has the GJ effected? I think that this is something that we all could benefit from knowing.”

President Catherine McKown provided the following response: “There are so many reports that have been successful over the years. Here are three that I talked about at the last CGJA conference on the topic of GJ Report Success Stories, whether Rapid or Slow to Reach Fruition.”

The first example, court security at the Civic Center, took a few years and two reports to implement. The Marin Civic Center building had many security challenges. Before implementation of security screening on the courts floor, there were no impediments to bringing any kind of weapon into a courtroom. The public safety of judicial officers, court staff, attorneys, and court observers was compromised every day. There had been two fatal shootings and a courtroom had been bombed since the courthouse opened in 1969.

• The first GJ report was Marin Civic Center: A Security Challenge - May 24, 2002, to which there was agreement to 18 of 20 findings.
• The second GJ report was Civic Center Security Revisited - June 8, 2004, which cited awareness but lack of implementation.

Achievement: The courts and sheriff's office have established perimeter security screening since July 2006. All entrances have been locked down and alarmed, so all individuals must pass through magnetometers and have possessions go through x-rays. This has been a very successful program. According to the chief executive officer of the court, approximately 40 questionable objects are turned over to the sheriff's office each week from the screening station.

The second example concerned the unrepresented poor in court at arraignment, the first court appearance. The Board of Supervisors had denied budgeting for this for several years but because of the second grand jury report, a pilot project began less than a year after the report was released.

• The first GJ report was The Public Defender in Marin - May 14, 2003, in which one of eight findings and one of five recommendations cited the need for representation of indigent citizens at arraignment.
• The second GJ report was Defenseless at Arraignment - Lady Justice Lagging in Marin - April 25, 2006, which took on the one issue of representation of the poor at arraignment.

Achievement: Beginning in March 2007, there was a pilot program for a public defender to be present at arraignment. The program serves approximately 40 people per week. The old/sick, non-dangerous are released. According to the public defender's department, it's a wonderful program. They are reaching out to the community, giving critical information to the court; the calendar is moving more quickly; and there appears to be a savings to the County. This pilot was successful and the program is now permanent. The Public Defender is very enthusiastic about the success brought about by the focus on this issue by the Grand Jury reports.

The third example concerned restraint methods for detainees, especially hog-tying, also known as hobbling.

• The Grand Jury report was Hog-tying: A Lethal Restraint? - February 14, 2007. The report expressed concerns about the death potential of the method of restraining arrested or detained citizens by tying hands and feet together behind the back. Better, safer methods are available. The report recommended that the Marin County Police Chiefs' Association (MCPCA) immediately establish a set of countywide best practices that advise on the proper use of hobbles and identify the dangers of hog-tying; and recommended that all law enforcement agencies swiftly implement those best practices.

Achievement: Within 60-90 days, seven of the ten municipal police departments prohibited the practice of hog-tying, and the remaining three police depts. and three cities, as well as the sheriff's office, indicated that they would abide by the best practices recommended by the MCPCA. For example, our largest city has banned hog-tying and is using safer restraint mechanisms, including the WRAP, referenced in the GJ report. The MCPCA is in the process of modifying its Use of Force Protocol and will recommend it to all law enforcement in the County.

There are numerous other reports that have led to changes in the County. I could go on and on.

Catherine

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