Every year in the fall, CGJA holds an Annual Conference/Membership Meeting at a different location. The conference provides an opportunity for members and civil grand jurors to meet and discuss experiences, ask questions, and otherwise engage in activities to enhance everyone’s understanding of the civil grand jury system in order to contribute to CGJA’s role in protecting and enhancing California’s county civil grand jury system.

The 2026 Annual Conference is planned for Sacramento on November 1 and 2, 2026, with the theme of Volunteerism: Key to Grand Jury Success. The speaker lineup for 2026 currently stands with Dan Walters (CalMatters) and Prof. Josh Franco (Cuyamaca College Grand Jury Lab). We look forward to putting together an agenda and event sessions that will make this an exciting event to attend. Activities will include a dinner and silent auction on the evening of November 1.

Civil Grand Jurors’ Association of California
43nd Annual Conference and Membership Meeting
Volunteerism:  Key to Grand Jury Success
November 1-2, 2026
Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade, Sacramento, California

Register for the conference below. Note: Lifetime Achievement Award recipients who receive free registration will need to use the downloadable form.

Online Conference Registration FormDownloadable Conference Registration Form

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: The Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento is now accepting sleeping room reservations for your attendance at the CGJA Annual Conference. Their street address is 100 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, California, CA 95814. You can register in one of three ways.

1. On-line at hilton.com CGJA reservation link. IF YOU ARE STAYING MORE THAN ONE NIGHT, YOU WILL NEED TO DO THIS ALSO:

  • Select “Edit Stay” (upper right corner of page)
  • Select new arrival and/or checkout dates, select “done,” then select “update”
  • Select your room.
  • Then proceed with credit card and other personal data.

OR

2. Visit www.sacramento.embassysuites.com and select the date of your stay. Then select the “special rates” box, enter group code 913 and select “done,” then select “check rooms and rates” and make your room selection. Then proceed with credit card and other personal data.

OR

3. Call (916) 326-5000 and ask for “Reservations.” Let the agent know that you would like to make a reservation under the Civil Grand Jurors’ Association Annual Conference group code 913.

Please keep in mind that all reservations must be in by: October 10, 2026 2025 to receive the CGJA room rate of $189 (single/double, plus several taxes). Reservations made after that date will be subject to the prevailing hotel rates and room availability at the time of booking.

Please Note: Sleeping rooms must be secured with a valid credit card. A deposit will not be required.

Hotel valet parking is $45/night. Self-parking is available at an adjacent city lot at $29/day.

For conference information, contact Lloyd Bell, CGJA Conference Chair, at annualconference@cgja.org.

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Schoolhouse/Steamboat Ballroom

1:00 – 1:15 PM:   Conference and silent auction open:  Pledge of Allegiance and opening remarks
     Lloyd Bell, Co-Chair, Annual Conference Committee (Contra Costa)  

1:15 – 1:45 PM: CGJA President’s Report on CGJA Activities and the State of the Association
     Gary Cooper, CGJA President

     Presentation of the Certificate of Affiliation to the Yolo County Chapter
     Presentation of the Certificate of Affiliation to the Modoc County Chapter

1:45 – 2:00 PM: Election results
     Jon Tonsing, Chair, Nominations-Elections Committee (Yuba)

     Swearing in Officers and Directors
     The Honorable William J. Pendergast III, Presiding Judge, Solano County Superior Court

2:00 – 2:15 PM: Presentation of Best Report Award
     Barbara Sommer, Chair, Excellence in Reporting Subcommittee (Yolo)

2:15 – 2:45 PM: Volunteer Service Recognition
     Martha Saldana-Wolf, Chair, Awards Committee (Solano)

2:45 – 2:50 PM: Introduction to the breakout sessions
     Juliana Jones (Mono)

2:50 – 3:00 PM: Break

3:00 – 3:40 PM: Breakout Sessions (five different topics from which to choose)
     Moderator:  Juliana Jones

Breakout Session #1

    1. Recruiting for Grand Jury Service – led by Spencer Sias (Marin)
    2. Meet the new Grand Jury Effectiveness Committee – led by Michael Galane (El Dorado) and Jay Lark (San Diego)
    3. Developing a successful volunteer culture – led by Michael Hofman (San Francisco)

3:40 – 3:50 PM: Move to breakout session #2

3:50 – 4:30 PM: Breakout session #2

    1. Ask the Trainer Live! – led by Co-Chairs Marsha Caranci (Shasta) and Richard Rogers (Santa Barbara)
      Panel members Karen Jahr (Shasta) and Jon Tonsing (Yuba)
    2. Meet the new Grand Jury Effectiveness Committee – led by Michael Galane (El Dorado) and Jay Lark (San Diego)
    3. Developing a healthy and successful chapter – led by Sharon DeBenedetti (Sonoma)

4:30 – 4:40 PM: Stretch break, reassemble in Schoolhouse/Steamboat Ballroom

4:40 – 5:00 PM: Report out from session leaders

5:00 – 5:20 PM: Wrap up of breakout sessions
     Moderator: Juliana Jones

5:20 – 5:30 PM: Awards Committee Teaser
     Martha Saldana-Wolf, Chair, Awards Committee

5:30 PM: CGJA Annual Conference recesses

7:00 PM: CGJA Annual Conference Dinner
     Schoolhouse/Steamboat Ballroom

     Angelo Rolando Service Award presentation
     Martha Saldana-Wolf, Chair, Awards Committee

8:30 PM: Silent Auction closes
     Live Auction commencement

Monday, November 2, 2026

Schoolhouse/Steamboat Ballroom

9:00 – 9:10 AM:    CGJA Annual Conference resumes
     Lori Macdonald, Co-Chair, Annual Conference Committee (Ventura)

9:10 – 10:10 AM: Keynote Address:  State of the State
     Dan Walters, CalMatters Columnist

10:10 – 10:20 AM: Break

10:20 – 11-00 AM: Professor Josue Franco, Cuyamaca College and member of the CGJA Grand Jury Effectiveness Committee

11:00 – 11:30 AM: Roving Reporter update from Committee Chairs and Chapters
     Roving Reporter Lou Panetta (Monterey)

11:30 – 11:45 AM: Member comments and Q&A
     Gary Cooper, CGJA President

11:45 AM – Noon: Conference wrap up and closing remarks
     Gary Cooper, CGJA President

  • Photos from the 2025 Annual Conference and dinner can be found here.
  • The slide set for our keynote address Understanding Artificial Intelligence can be viewed here.
  • Civil Grand Jury Talking Points (PDF) This is two page set of talking points to be used to inform prospective jurors about serving on their county’s grand jury.
  • The set of committee reports for 2025 can be viewed here.
  • 2025 CGJA Volunteer Roster can be viewed here.

Please direct all queries or suggestions about the annual conference to Lloyd Bell, Annual Conference Chair.

Transcripts of Conferences since 2006 can be found in the December issue of the Grand Jurors’ Journal for that year which contains a summary of the conference of that year. Go to Journal Archives to find these editions.

Transcripts of Conferences held prior to 2007 are archived here.