Amended in Assembly March 10, 2016

Amended in Assembly February 4, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 114

Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Lackey begin delete and Mathis) end delete begin insert , Mathis, Achadjian, Alejo, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Brough, Brown, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gordon, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mayes, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Wilk, Williams, and Wood) end insert

January 11, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 114—Relative to Grand Jury Awareness Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 114, as amended, Gallagher. Grand Jury Awareness Month.

This measure would proclaim the month of March 2016 as Grand Jury Awareness Month in California, recognize those who volunteer in a grand jury, and encourage all Californians to learn about its role in the judicial system.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, California’s grand jury system is a unique
component of our state’s government. Present in each of our 58
counties, these juries consist of citizens selected by the superior
courts; and

WHEREAS, Our grand juries exist through the dedication of
the people, and they help to ensure that the accused are treated
fairly and that our local governments are maintaining the highest
legal standards; and

WHEREAS, Grand juries are used at the beginning of the legal
investigation process. These juries have three important functions:
(1) to decide whether there is probable cause that a criminal act
occurred and if there is enough evidence to indict a person; (2)
within their civil jurisdiction, to oversee local governments; and
(3) to reserve the power to accuse public officers of misconduct;
and

WHEREAS, As gatekeepers of our justice system, grand juries
ensure that citizens have a role in the justice process and that the
justice process operates effectively; and

WHEREAS, The hard work done by our grand juries has a great
impact throughout our communities, and they have helped to make
California a better place; and

WHEREAS, These accomplishments can only be made through
the outstanding dedication of those who volunteer as grand jurors;
now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the
month of March 2016 as Grand Jury Awareness Month in
California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes those who volunteer
in a grand jury, encourages all Californians to learn about the great
role of the grand jury in the judicial system, and applauds those
who have made the grand jury so successful; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.