Welcome

The Marin Chapter of the Civil Grand Jurors’ Association (MCCGJA) is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization of former Marin County civil grand jurors.
Our primary mission is to help recruit, select and train Marin civil grand jurors.  We also work to raise public awareness of the Marin Civil Grand Jury and the important role it serves to help improve the operations of Marin’s more than 125 local governments.

Jury recruitment — A job well done

The Marin Chapter of the Civil Grand Jurors Association has wrapped up recruitment of applicants for the 2026-27 Marin Civil Grand Jury, receiving 66 applications and exceeding our goal of 65. 

Much work went into this, thanks to Tom Gannon, Ed Schuller, Pat Shepherd, Deborah Haase, Dave Bonfilio, Trish Barrett, Brad Wright, Scott Smith, Janeko Bower, Brad Sharp, Beth Rowett, and Mardi Diamond.

Together, we conducted eight information sessions on line and in libraries and community rooms across the county. We also made three presentations with College of Marin’s ESCOM program and co-sponsored a public forum on the important role of citizen watchdogs on California’s Little Hoover Commission and civil grand juries. Presentations on the value of jury service were made to the American Association of University Women and the West Marin Rotary Club.

We advertised in newspapers and on movie screens, developed new materials including a refreshed recruitment brochure and updated posters and banners, and produced press releases as well as two Independent Journal “Marin Voice” articles featuring the civil grand jury. 

We all can be proud of the recruiting work we’ve done on behalf of the jury and our community. 

Now we turn to helping the court with jury selection. Under the leadership of our selection team, we are contacting and scheduling the applicants for interviews and group exercises that will be conducted by 21 chapter members in May. The Hon. Stephen Freccero, Presiding Judge of the Marin Superior Court, will then select those who will be entered into the jury drawing at the civic center on June 3rd.  

Once the 2026-27 jury is sworn in, chapter members will assist with training the new jurors and alternates on July 6-8. Our training team updated its curriculum and found a new and larger training venue in the County offices on Los Gamos Drive in San Rafael. 

Clearly, our chapter is executing our mission to help recruit, select, and train Marin’s civil grand  jurors. The work we do shows in the quality of reports released by Marin’s civil grand juries every year. Thanks to all for a great team effort. 

Spencer Sias, MCCGJA President 

HELP WANTED

Interviewers and Greeters Needed

The chapter is calling on members to help with interviewing and greeting applicants for the 2026-27 Marin Civil Grand Jury at the Marin Civic Center in May. If you are interested in helping with this jury selection program, please contact Pat Shepherd or Tom Gannon to get details.

* * * * *

A primary function of MCCGJA is to encourage citizens to participate in the Marin County Civil Grand Jury. A great deal of information about the Civil Grand Jury can be found in The Civil Grand Jury  dropdown menu above.  You can apply for the Civil Grand Jury using The Grand Jury Application. If you need more information, please Contact Us.

The County is recruits volunteers to serve on the Marin County Civil Grand Jury, a panel empowered by the local judiciary to investigate government performance.

Testimonials from Prior Grand Jurors
D. López
A. Stephenson
M. Perez