ECBAWM, on behalf of New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, filed an action to unseal grand jury materials related to the killing of Eric Garner by NYPD officers in Staten Island. On December 10, 2014, Richmond County Supreme Court Justice Stephen Rooney ordered that Ms. James’ motion must itself be filed in secret and withheld from the public. Ms. James then lodged an emergency appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department, which swiftly ruled in her favor and directed that her motion be disclosed and made available to the public. In the wake of this ruling, Justice Rooney has scheduled a public hearing for December 19, 2014 on whether to unseal grand jury materials related to the death of Eric Garner. ECBAWM attorneys Matthew D. Brinckerhoff and R. Orion Danjuma are representing the Public Advocate in this action.

“Multiple Parties Push to Open Garner Grand Jury Record,” New York Law Journal
“Letitia James ‘Somewhat Confident’ Judge Will Unseal Garner Grand Jury Minutes,” New York Observer