What We Do
We provide the general public with information and educational materials and activities on the California Civil Grand Jury system that will help increase public awareness of the valuable role the civil grand jury plays in our democratic system of government.
We provide comprehensive training on all subjects relative to empaneled civil grand juries available to all 58 counties within California including civil grand jury training as well as specific workshops on key topics relevant to civil grand jury service.
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Civil Grand Jury Resources
Here you can find sample documents, templates, examples of well-written reports, links to local government resources,
and FAQs.
Our Annual Conference
Every year in the fall, CGJA holds an Annual Conference and Membership Meeting to provide an opportunity for members and civil grand jurors to meet and discuss experiences and hear from speakers and panels on relevant topics of interest.
Chapter Resources
Includes chapter resource documents, suggested activities for chapters, guidance for forming a chapter along with templates.
Get Involved
Join CGJA as an active member, volunteer for CGJA, become a civil grand juror, join a chapter, or support us through a tax deductible donation.
Grand Jurors' Journal
This bimonthly journal is a major source of information about the civil grand jury system and recent updates on CGJA activities of interest to our members.
CGJA and California's Civil Grand Jury System
Learn about CGJA and details about California’s unique system of civil grand juries.
Our Awards
Annual awards recognizing civil grand jury reporting and media coverage along with the Angelo Rolando Service Award.
We can help you become
an effective civil grand juror
CGJA conducts training seminars for civil grand jurors and alternates on their various civil functions. These seminars include twelve full hours of presentations and over 300 pages of training materials. Experienced and highly qualified trainers who have served as civil grand jurors or grand jury legal advisors present these programs locally, throughout the state as “onsite” seminars or via Zoom if Covid-19 restrictions exist.
We also conduct Foreperson and Pro Tem Workshops, Legal Advisors’ Workshops, and Report Writing Workshops.
Stay Updated with Civil Grand Jury News
Upcoming PSA for Montery and Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jurors.
KSQD.org
On Monday, June 29, 6 to 7 p.m., jurors from Monterey and Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Juries report on their year of investigating local governments and agencies. They'll present their recommendations on pedestrian safety, election integrity, improving gaps in emergency phone coverage, seawater intrusion, booking procedures at the jail, and closing the gap between housing plans and production. Get a first-hand summary of citizen involvement in making elected officials and staff accountable to the public trust. Program host Joe Truskot moderates individuals with extensive involvement in this year's reports in a lively discussion of democracy in action.
That's 6 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 29, on KSQD Santa Cruz, KSQT Prunedale, 90.7 FM Santa Cruz, 89.7 FM Monterey Salinas Watsonville, 89.5 FM Carmel Valley and Salinas Valley; streaming live at ksqd.org.
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stocktonia.org/news/local-government/2026/06/25/stockton-city-council-turmoil-has-become-a-govern...
San Joaquin County Grand Jury Report-Stockton City Council
A new San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report says Stockton City Council’s public infighting, leadership instability and failure to fully address past oversight reports have weakened city governance and distracted officials from serving residents.
The civil grand jury’s 2025-26 annual report, released this week, includes an investigation into Stockton’s City Council titled “Governance in Turmoil.” The report describes a pattern of dysfunction at City Hall, not just one isolated issue or dispute.
The findings follow a turbulent year marked by leadership changes, public clashes among councilmembers and repeated disputes between Mayor Christina Fugazi and Vice Mayor Jason Lee, both on and off the dais.The civil grand jury is a panel of residents that reconvenes with new members yearly to investigate local government and reports on misconduct, inefficiency or mismanagement.
This most recent investigation into Stockton City Hall first focused on complaints regarding whether councilmembers violated the Brown Act — California’s open-meeting law — or shared confidential city information. But the civil grand jury said it later found broader problems, including council infighting, money concerns, low staff morale, ethics issues and the city’s failure to fully address past recommendations.
The grand jury did not single out individual councilmembers in its findings, instead directing its criticism at the City Council as a whole. But Stockton residents have watched many of the tensions described in the report unfold publicly over the past year.
The new report builds on continued civil grand jury scrutiny in recent years of Stockton City Hall.
In 2024, the civil grand jury released “City of Stockton: Crisis in Government,” a report that similarly examined public meeting violations, alleged leaks from closed sessions and complaints about a hostile and ineffective work environment inside Stockton city government, making nearly a dozen recommendations for change.
A year later, the civil grand jury found Stockton had adequately addressed five of its previous 11 recommendations, but said six still needed more follow-up. This year’s report says the council’s most recent response last September to the civil grand jury’s previous report addressed only three of those six outstanding recommendations.
The most recent round of controversies at Stockton City Hall escalated in January of last year, after then-City Manager Harry Black abruptly left the city on threat of termination by the new City Council following a shift on the board’s dynamics as a result of the 2024 election. His departure left Stockton without a permanent city manager for much of the year and set off disputes over how the city should be run.
The council soon appointed Steve Colangelo as interim city manager in a controversial 4-3 vote, despite concerns from the community and some councilmembers that he wasn’t qualified for the job, which exacerbated tensions on the council and set off a string of controversies related to Colangelo’s leadership. A longtime events manager, Colangelo had never worked in city management and his resume did not boast education typically required for city manager candidates. It was later revealed through a Stocktinia investigation that Colangelo used public money to hire another longtime city manager from Lathrop as a consultant to help him do his job.
Stockton’s current city manager, Johnny Ford, was appointed to the position permanently to the position November, ending months of uncertainty over who would lead City Hall.
The civil grand jury said the absence of a permanent full-time city manager contributed to a lack of checks and balances in Stockton’s council-manager system of government.
stocktonia.org
Stockton City Council’s public infighting, leadership instability and failure to fully address past oversight reports have weakened city governance, SJ County Civil Grand Jury report says.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury
calcoastnews.com/2026/06/san-luis-obispo-mayor-leaks-confidential-report-would-do-it-again/
By KAREN VELIE
After several community watchdogs discovered that San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart had violated the law when she shared restricted information from the Grand Jury, Stewart responded saying she would do it again.
In 2025, the San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury found that San Luis Obispo had failed to protect its residents from loud and ruckus parties hosted by Cal Poly State University students. In addition. the city also failed to enforce permit requirements for rowdy fraternities while it increased the cost of appealing those permits.
On June 13, 2025, the Grand Jury sent Stewart a copy of the report that included a lengthy list of recommendations and a warning that it was a violation of the law to share the report.
“A grand jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy of the report relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after the approval of the presiding judge,” the email to Stewart quoted Penal Code 933.05(f). “No officer, agency or governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the public release of the final report.”
While grand juries release reports to agencies ahead of time so they can work on their responses, other witnesses and agencies are not permitted to review the reports until publicly released. The email ended with another warning not to share the report.
Even so, Stewart, a long-time Cal Poly employee, shared the report two hours and nine minutes after the grand jury sent it to her.
Stewart texted Courtney Kienow, an employee in Cal Poly’s Office of the President, asking if she knew the report was done. Stewart then shared the report with Cal Poly.
Stewart and Kienow shared 32 texts trashing the grand jury and discussing the report before it was released publicly:
Kienow texted, “Only two pages in and so frustrated.”
Stewart texted, “It is as though some of our local friends wrote it,”
Kienow texted, “I am working on a rebuttal. Problem: Cal Poly is not identified in the report as a required respondent so I don’t believe they intend to share it with us at all before it’s published. Our leadership has not received it.”
Kienow texted, “If she doesn’t send it to me, are you comfortable with me emailing them my corrections based on you sharing it? I will send you what I am proposing.”
Stewart texted, “Happy to share your responses. I have so many problems with the thing as well. Love to chat with you about it. Let me know if you have time this afternoon to chat.”
Kienow texted, “So many people have the advanced copy of the report now… they’ll never know it came from you. Still, greatly appreciate you stepping out for whats right.”
Stewart texted, “So interesting. I told Whitney that I had assumed the university was going to be asked to respond and therefore I gave it to you. So, if it comes up, I am fine with being outed if I have to.”
From June 13 through June 17, SLO City Manager Whitney McDonald and Kienow exchange multiple texts asking what was said in grand jury interviews, to make sure their stories “align.”
On June 23, 2025, the grand jury released the report – “Round & Round with Town & Gown” – 10 days after it was transmitted to the city under a statutory confidentiality order.
In a similar case, Santa Clara City Councilman Anthony Becker was sentenced to 40 days in jail for leaking a draft grand jury report to the San Francisco Forty-Niners, who helped bankroll his political career.
In December 2024, a jury convicted Becker of lying to the Civil Grand Jury when he falsely denied that he leaked its draft report that was critical of Becker, and several of his city council colleagues, for their unethical relationship with the 49ers and for putting the team’s interests above those of the city, a felony.
The jury also convicted Becker of a misdemeanor for violating his duty to not disclose the draft report.
On June 15, Stewart was questioned about releasing the report on the Dave Congalton Show on KVEC. Stewart said she did not break any laws when she shared the report with Cal Poly and that she would do it again.
A resident then called in to Congalton’s show to complain about shoddy inspections by the city. Stewart told the woman to contact city staff and described her job as “cutting ribbons” and setting policy.
San Luis Obispo mayor leaks confidential report, would do it again
calcoastnews.com
By KAREN VELIE After several community watchdogs discovered that San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart had violated the law when she shared restricted information from the Grand Jury, Stewart respond…0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Follow up to the Yolo County Grand Jury Report
County disputes alleged role in Oakdale Fire catastrophe
www.davisenterprise.com/news/county-disputes-alleged-role-in-oakdale-fire-catastrophe/article_ee5...
Davis Enterprise
Jun 23, 2026
By Lauren Keene, Enterprise staff writer
A civil grand jury jumped the gun in assigning blame to Yolo County employees and the county’s Board of Supervisors for the July 1, 2025, Esparto fireworks explosion — known as the Oakdale Fire — that killed seven employees, the county wrote in a formal response released Monday.
The reply comes three months after the scathing grand jury report, titled "Officials Knew, None Acted," which alleged that nearly a dozen Yolo County officials had knowledge of the prohibited fireworks operation at County Roads 23 and 86A for years but took no action to shut it down, leading “directly to death and destruction.”
Grand jurors also asserted that the Board of Supervisors fostered “a culture of tolerance of code violations,” along with “a laissez-faire attitude toward new construction and businesses located in unincorporated areas.”
Not so, county officials say in their 20-page response, available online at www.yolocounty.gov/grandjuryreports. Supervisors adopted the document without comment at its regular meeting Tuesday.
“The Oakdale Fire was a profound tragedy for the families and loved ones of the seven people who were killed that day, and it has forever affected the wider Esparto and Yolo County communities,” the response says. “The victims’ families, and the public, deserve a full and accurate account of how an illegal fireworks operation grew, remained concealed, and ultimately ended in catastrophe.”
County officials contend the civil grand jury issued its findings “before critical facts became available,” including a sweeping criminal grand jury indictment handed down a week later that charged eight people for their alleged roles in the blast, alleging a decade-long conspiracy to expand the illegal fireworks operation through “fraudulent federal licensing arrangements, fabricated leases, false statements about how buildings and property would be used, and repeated assurances to federal, state, and local officials that the operation was lawful.”
“As alleged in the indictments, the enterprise was designed to deceive the agencies and officials that came into contact with it, and a disregard for human life pervaded its operations and created the conditions that produced the Oakdale Fire,” the response says. “These allegations remain to be proven in court. They nonetheless provide critical context that the (civil) grand jury did not have, and materially undermine the report’s central claim that county staff knew the true nature of the operation and chose not to act following a site visit on June 2, 2022.”
On that date, the county’s chief building official, Scott Doolittle, sent an email to colleagues raising concerns about property owner Sam Machado’s application for the installation of a 200-amp electrical panel for a 4,500-square-foot storage building — a request that seemed inconsistent with the application's claim of agricultural use, The Davis Enterprise previously reported.
“I just want to give you an alert that I will be heading out to a site for a meter release this afternoon,” Doolittle wrote. “Why is this news? I received a tip that the site is being used to run a pyrotechnics business. Sheriff deputies, potentially including deputies that we work with, are reported to be involved in the business. They are using an ag exempt building plus 25 Conex boxes for the operation.”
Doolittle outlined plans “to gather more information and verify the reports, but I will tread lightly today. Then we can discuss how to proceed," the email says.
He later sent out additional emails confirming the pyrotechnics operations. The email chain reached a hazmat specialist with the Yolo County Environmental Health Division — which is overseen by the Community Services Department — who on June 3, 2022, replied that “if the facility is handling new or waste fireworks at or above reportable quantities, then they need to submit a Hazardous Materials Business Plan” that, if approved, would undergo annual review with a facility inspection every three years.
The email exchanges on this subject halted abruptly after this, and no plan was ever submitted, county officials confirmed to The Enterprise last summer.
Court case continues
In addition to its general response, the county’s reply addresses nearly three dozen findings and recommendations contained in the civil grand jury report, as required by law.
“Where the report identifies practical ways to strengthen county programs, procedures, training, coordination, and oversight, the board and the other respondents agree and are already taking action,” the document says. “Where the report substitutes speculation for evidence, particularly in its conclusions about the knowledge, conduct, and motives of county staff and the board, the respondents reject those conclusions and explain why.
"The board will not allow legitimate questions about administrative procedures to be transformed into a claim that county staff or the board bear causal responsibility for this tragedy,” officials wrote. “Responsibility for the deaths of the seven workers must be placed where the evidence supports it. As alleged in the pending criminal proceedings, that responsibility rests with the enterprise and the people who built it, concealed it, expanded it, and continued operating it until their conduct culminated in catastrophe.”
Meanwhile, the Esparto criminal case continues to make its way through the Yolo Superior Court system.
On April 3, a criminal grand jury indicted the eight defendants for their alleged roles in the Oakdale incident, including former Yolo County sheriff’s employees Sam Machado and Tammy Machado, the property’s owners; Devastating Pyrotechnics owner Kenneth Chee and BlackStar Fireworks owner Craig Cutright, both of whom operated their businesses on the site.
Also named in the documents are Chee associates Douglas Tollefsen, Gary Chan Jr., Jack Lee and Ronald Botelho III. Sam Machado, Chee, Tollefsen, Chan and Lee each face seven counts of second-degree murder — one for each of the employees who perished — under the theory they knowingly permitted the dangerous atmosphere with conscious disregard for human life.
Since then, Cutright and the Machados have been released from jail custody on bail bonds. Chee, Tollefsen, Chan and Lee remain in the Yolo County Jail on no-bail holds, while Botelho is jailed on related charges Del Norte County.
The case returns to court July 1 — coincidentally, the explosion's one-year anniversary — for further proceedings. Judge Daniel Maguire has indicated he’ll consider making public the transcripts of the criminal grand jury proceedings, currently filed under seal.
A plume of smoke rises into the sky following a July 1, 2025, fireworks explosion outside Esparto that killed seven people and damaged neighboring properties.
Courtesy photo
County disputes alleged role in Oakdale Fire catastrophe
www.davisenterprise.com
A civil grand jury jumped the gun in assigning blame to Yolo County employees and the county’s Board of Supervisors for the July 1, 2025, Esparto fireworks explosion — known0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Alameda County Civil Grand Jury: Jails Clean, Critical Upgrades Needed for Aging Facilities
davisvanguard.org/2026/06/alameda-county-grand-jury-report/
Vanguard News Group
June 22, 20260
By Nancy Carrillo
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The 2025-26 Alameda County Grand Jury found that the county’s jail and in-custody holding facilities were generally clean, orderly and well-managed, though it noted that some older facilities require infrastructure upgrades to maintain safety and efficiency.
Alameda County undergoes jail and in-custody holding facility inspections by the Grand Jury. After inspecting the Wiley Manuel Courthouse holding cells, Juvenile Justice Center (JJC), East County Hall of Justice (ECHO-J) and Rene C. Davidson Courthouse holding cells, the Grand Jury concluded that the facilities were clean, orderly and generally well-managed, though some older facilities require infrastructure upgrades.
The 2025-26 Alameda County Grand Jury Final Report states that, under Penal Code Section 919(b), the Grand Jury is to “inquire into the condition and management” of these facilities.
The report reveals that the Wiley Manuel Courthouse holding cells “house detainees temporarily during court appearances,” with approximately 30 to 135 detainees per day. Detainees are reported to spend six hours at the courthouse, where they are separated into holding cells based on classification. With trained staff on first aid, CPR and AED use, the Grand Jury found that the facility met or exceeded expectations.
The report focused on the JJC, stating that the facility houses up to 300 youth detainees ages 12 to 22. The report, noting that the facility housed 54 juvenile detainees at the time of the inspection, stated that the Grand Jury was pleased with the number of services and programs available, ranging from academic education and health services that specialize in juveniles with special needs to recreational facilities that include a gym, library and computer room.
In terms of security, the report emphasized that JJC had 24/7 camera monitoring, monthly emergency drills, a dedicated emergency generator, food supplies and water reserves. The JJC was described as exceptionally clean, well-stocked and supportive of rehabilitation through extensive programming.
The ECHO-J facility serves as a temporary holding facility for detainees attending court proceedings. With average daily occupancy ranging from 45 to 50 detainees, most remain for one to four hours and do not stay overnight.
The report found that the ECHO-J facility exceeded expectations regarding cleanliness, noting that the cells were clean and equipped with toilets, sinks, benches and call buttons. Daily cleanings were conducted, and first-aid equipment, AEDs and fire extinguishers were readily available.
The last facility the Grand Jury inspected was the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse holding cells, which serve felony detainees attending court proceedings. The facility has an average of 40 daily detainees, increasing to 60 to 70 on Fridays, with detainees staying between four and six hours and a maximum stay of eight hours.
Facility conditions were praised, with the Grand Jury finding clean rooms, trained deputies and additional accommodations for pregnant detainees, such as seating pads and extra jackets.
However, the Grand Jury noted some concerns regarding the ECHO-J facility because of its age. Founded in 1936, the ECHO-J facility is one of the county’s oldest facilities. The report identified aging camera systems, HVAC equipment, electrical infrastructure and cell-door mechanisms as requiring upgrades.
Overall, ECHO-J was praised for how the facility has been maintained, while the report emphasized the need for continued modernization of its aging infrastructure.
Alameda Grand Jury: Jails Clean, Critical Upgrades Needed for Aging Facilities - Davis Vanguard
davisvanguard.org
The 2025-26 Alameda County Grand Jury determined that the county's jail and in-custody holding facilities were generally clean, orderly, and well-managed, though its findings highlighted the necessity...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Yolo County Civil Grand Jurors Organize a New Support and Advocacy Chapter
davisvanguard.org/2026/06/yolo-county-cgja-chapter/
Vanguard Media Group
June 21, 20260 comments
By Ahna H.
The newly formed Yolo County Chapter of the California Civil Grand Jurors’ Association (CGJA) has launched, aiming to create a dedicated network of former grand jurors who are focused on promoting local government transparency, supporting current grand jurors, and recruiting future grand jurors.
“We had our first meeting in late 2025 and ‘hit the ground running,’ in 2026,” said Chapter president, Mike Familia. “We’re looking forward to increasing our outreach efforts and lending our support to both current grand jurors and the Superior Court of Yolo County Jury Services.”
The current Yolo County Chapter of CGJA board slate is as follows:
President: Mike Familia
Vice president: Bob Phibbs
Secretary: Barbara Sommer
Treasurer: Karen Buchko
Member-at-Large: Ahna Heller
In addition to outreach efforts, the new chapter will host the statewide CGJA annual conference in Sacramento on November 1 – 2.
Yolo County Civil Grand Jurors Organize a New Support and Advocacy Chapter - Davis Vanguard
davisvanguard.org
The newly established Yolo County Chapter of the California Civil Grand Jurors' Association (CGJA) has commenced operations, aiming to foster local government transparency, provide support for current...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
CGJA Journal
This bimonthly journal is a major source of information about the civil grand jury system and recent updates on CGJA activities of interest to our members.
The Gift of Your Time
is Priceless
CGJA is an all-volunteer membership organization. We succeed mainly because our members volunteer to serve on our committees and/or train civil grand jurors. Serving on committees almost never requires travel as we communicate via email and computer video. Our trainers do travel to venues throughout the state and we reimburse them for lodging, mileage, and a modest per diem for other expenses.
