After Killings By Police, A Debate Over Grand Jury Secrecy

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week proposed a limited lifting of the grand jury veil when police kill unarmed civilians, and this week a New York City judge will consider whether to release transcripts of a grand jury's investigation into Eric Garner's chokehold death. The district attorney in Ferguson, Missouri, took the unusual step last month of letting the public read grand jury transcripts in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. "Secrecy only breeds suspicion," says New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, who has joined civil rights advocates and others in petitioning a Staten Island judge to release grand jury transcripts in the Garner case. Grand jurors consider only whether there's probable cause to bring criminal charges, not whether there's proof beyond a reasonable doubt to merit conviction. Besides safeguarding witnesses, confidentiality allows for investigating people who might flee if they knew. District attorneys praised the proposal, and civil rights and defense advocates called it a helpful step — "a sliver of light," with more illumination needed, New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman says.

BING NEWS:
  • York man indicted by federal grand jury on firearms offenses: U.S. Attorney's Office
    A York County man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on firearms charges, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Authorities ...
    04/25/2024 - 2:37 am | View Link
  • Justices Seem Ready to Limit the 2020 Election Case Against Trump
    Such a ruling in the case, on whether the former president is immune from prosecution, would probably send it back to a lower court and could delay any trial until after the November election.
    04/25/2024 - 2:04 am | View Link
  • Pecker testimony reveals backroom deals that helped Trump win 2016
    The sordid details of shady backroom dealings spilled out in open court Tuesday when ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker confessed his magazine used “checkbook journalism” to ...
    04/24/2024 - 8:13 am | View Link
  • York County man indicted by federal grand jury in child pornography case: U.S. Attorney
    A York County man faces child pornography charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury, according to the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
    04/24/2024 - 6:57 am | View Link
  • Special grand jury seated in BRPD street crimes corruption case
    A special grand jury has been convened to exclusively review criminal accusations against four Baton Rouge Police officers who were arrested last year.
    04/23/2024 - 9:28 am | View Link
  • More

 

Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

More World News