An Oakdale resident and a Riverbank resident are among the 19 people selected to serve on the 2025-2026 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury.

On June 30, 2025, in Department 24 of the Superior Court, Judge Sonny S. Sandhu presided over the selection of the 2025-2026 Civil Grand Jury. The jury’s term is for one fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

Michael Eggener of Oakdale and Jennifer Difuntorum of Riverbank were both selected to serve. Other members are from Ceres, Modesto, Turlock and Patterson.

The grand jury’s purpose is to investigate and report on the operations of local government. The grand jury’s fact-finding efforts result in a written report which contains specific recommendations aimed at identifying problems and offering recommendations for improving government operations and enhancing responsiveness. In this way, the grand jury acts as a representative of county residents in promoting government accountability.

Cynthia Young of Ceres was appointed Foreperson of the 2025-2026 Civil Grand Jury and Judge Sandhu also appointed four members from the previous year as holdovers to serve on the panel this year. Fourteen names were then selected randomly to complete the 19-member grand jury panel. Four additional people were selected as alternates. The alternates would be asked to serve in the event that a regular grand juror resigns or is removed.

Immediately after the selection process and swearing-in ceremony, the new panel attended an orientation session. They will also attend a required training session presented by the California Grand Jurors’ Association, a not-for-profit educational organization, on July 10 and 11.