Eric Garner grand jury evidence could be released. New York City Public Advocate Letitia James is trying to convince a Staten Island judge to make all testimony and evidence public that was heard by the panel that decided not to indict NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo in Eric Garner’s death. Read more on the story after the jump!
Public Advocate Letitia James’ plan is to push a Staten Island judge to release every piece of testimony and evidence that was heard by the grand jury in the Eric Garner case. The events that unfolded during the Eric Garner grand jury proceedings may become knowledge to the public.
Starting next friday, Letitia James will try to convince the Staten Island judge to release the evidence heard by the secret panel. The jury decided not to indict the New York Police Department officer who put Eric Garner, who was 43, in a chokehold which killed him in July. James stated, “The interest of the public and the perception of fairness make transparency vital, and I hope that these actions will result in accessibility of these court documents and proceedings.” Days after the grand jury decision, the judge answered a limited disclosure request by the DA but it mostly involved details that were “widely reported in the media” and it only made public the length of the proceedings, exhibits and the number of witnesses.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Rooney approved the request to release evidence from the grand jury under seal and an appellate judge unsealed it. A court insider said, “New York is one of the most restrictive states in terms of keeping grand juries secret and making this one public will be “an uphill battle.” The grand jury evidence request argued that “maintaining secrecy under these circumstances will only further erode and irreparably damage public trust in the justice system’s capacity to hold police accountable when citizens die at their hands.” New court papers stated that the non-indictment “has prompted a sustained wave of peaceful protests and public criticism from every government level.”
