MARIN COUNTY CHAPTER, CALIFORNIA GRAND JURORS ASSOCIATION

(Minutes of the Membership Meeting May 18, 2006)

President Haxton opened general section of the meeting, which included our speakers, at 9:30 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors room in the Marin County Civic Center.

Attendees: -- Bob Abeling, Dennis Brown, Gene Dyer, Ted Freeman, Owen Haxton, Joan Holmes, Betty Mattea, Catherine McKown, Irwin Taranto, Don Graff, Ron Lucas, Patti Baseheart, Jack Olive, Larry Haines, Walter Monash, Kim Turner (speaker), Jerry Lewi (speaker), Marian Dee (guest), and Shelly Wolff

Spreakers: --Owen Haxton introduced the first speaker, Kim Turner, the Executive Officer, Superior Court of Marin County.

She then proceeded to point out that the county was fortunate to have the MGJA and especially the grand jury training it provided. She announced that this year there were 65 applicants for the incoming grand jury. Because a judge was busy at a trial, she, herself, interviewed two of the applicants. There will be three carryovers from the 2005-2006 grand jury to the incoming 2006-2007 grand jury. She pointed out that a new rule (Rule of Court 876) is being circulated throughout the state for comment. It deals with obtaining demographic information such as age, sex, and ethnicity of grand jurors. The rule is aimed at obtaining information about recruiting grand jurors.

At 10:10 Jerry Lewi, the president of the CGJA, spoke. He pointed out that he has visited all 10 chapters of the CGJA and that ours in Marin was the most active one. Two more chapters are coming on line. The CGJA is adding training on Orange County. Up till now Visalia was the southern most site for grand jury training.. He indicated that education of the public was one of the best things grand juries and the CGJA are doing. There is also interest in the responses to reports, i.e., how many recommendations are agreed with and implemented. There was a discussion of the possibility of incorporating information about the grand jury function in courses presented at one or another of the 40 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes located on college or university campuses.

Although he had been invited to present his perceptions of the Dilts letter, which appeared in the April Grand Juror’s Journal, he indicated that the CGJA Board will respond in the next Journal.

He did indicate that there would be great difficulties in having completely open board meetings. For instance, large packets of information are provided for the board members, it would be very difficult, cumbersome and expensive to print all of this material for every CGJA member. Further the board meetings are carried out by teleconferencing. The CGJA cannot accommodate the entire membership on such conference calls.

He pointed out that the questions regarding dual membership in both the chapter and the statewide association before one can vote on solely local chapter matters, and which were brought up in the letter from the San Mateo Chapter, have been turned over to a committee chaired by Owen Haxton.

Business meeting: -- At 10:37 Owen Haxton opened the business part of the meeting. He proposed that the agenda be modified so that Catherine McKown, the foreperson of the sitting grand jury, be allowed to speak first, as she had urgent grand jury business that needed attending. The modified agenda was approved.

Catherine then gave a Grand Jury update to the members. The jury is hard at work and has published two reports this past month: Defenseless at Arraignment: Lady Justice Lagging in Marin and Caught in the Middle: Home Schooling Neglected in Marin County. She passed out copies of both reports and spoke about each report as well as encouraged MCCGJA members to write letters to the editors of their local papers regarding the Defenseless at Arraignment report. There are three holdovers for the 2006-07 Grand Jury: Keith Lester (current pro tem), Mac MacLaren, and Karin Hern (the newest juror). The official picture of the 05-06 Grand Jury was taken with one member digitally added, a case of "virtual actuality."

Minutes: - The minutes of the April meeting were approved.

Social Function: -- The luncheon that will take place on Wednesday May 24 will have 25 attendees. Irwin reported that twenty two had already paid, one more (Irwin himself) had better, and there will be two invitees. The speaker will be Farhad Mansourian the director of Public Works in the county.

Speakers: -- Dr. White of the College of Marin will speak at the June meeting and Larry Meredith, the head of human and health Services will speak in July

Election Committee: -Ted Freeman presented a slate of officers and members of the BOD. Betty Mattea has agreed to stand for president, Shelly Wolff for vice president, Irwin Taranto for treasurer, and Catherine McKown for secretary. Ted is willing to continue on the board. Gene Dyer and Dennis Brown are also willing to serve on the board. There were no additional nominees from the floor. Therefore no mail ballot need be sent out. The formal election will occur at the June meeting.

Officer’s reports: -- Irwin reported that we had 45 dual members and that we were solvent

Betty indicated the changes in the manual are just about completed. All that is needed now is a work party to help interleaf the pages.

Owen indicated that he is chairing the committee looking into the San Mateo letter about dual membership. He pointed out that he receives many complaints about the situation but no solutions. He has appointed a committee consisting of Stu, Lowell, Gene, and Ted to come up with a Marin solution.

Shelly sent Jerry Lewi, the president of the CGJA a letter inviting him to present his perceptions of the Dilts letter (Appendix I). Jerry responded (Appendix II)

Comments from members: -- Shelly pointed out that Marty Miller and he were preparing a submission of the pension report by last year’s grand jury for the CGJA ‘s Annual Excellence in Reporting Award.

Adjourned at 11:20 AM

Sheldon Wolff, Secretary