Video: Release of Grand Jury Information

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COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)–Ferguson, Missouri officials released evidence from a controversial grand jury decision. And a New York judge has approved release of similar information in a New York case where a police officer was cleared in a death case. The cases have sparked protests across the country and raised the question of how grand jury proceedings are handled and the release of those secret proceedings.

How cases were handled in Missouri and New York are partially to blame for sparking nationwide protests and calls for change over the deaths of black males at the hands of white police officers. Even the release of evidence hasn’t quieted the tensions. Mississippi’s laws on maintaining grand jury secrecy are strict. That means the public likely wouldn’t get the kind of information being disclosed in other states.

“Its supposed to be secret for 6 months. Even the names of the grand jurors are suppose to be secret for six months,” said Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Chuck Easley.

“If we here were to release grand jury information prior to the expiration of 6 months, then I would have committed a misdemeanor. Perhaps maybe a high misdemeanor in office,” said Mississippi District Attorney Forrest Allgood.

Allgood said he could be disbarred for such a violation, and that doing so also opens the door to witness retaliation.

“The big concern that you have in releasing that type of information, is what potential damage there is or could happen or occur to witnesses. You don’t want to release anybody’s name that was a citizen witness. Probably don’t want to release anybody’s name that was a law enforcement witness either,” said Allgood.

The outcry in New York prompted the release of information there. Most legal experts say they don’t think it would happen here

“That’s unusual and I can’t speak for other states, but you can’t do that in Mississippi, not without a court order. I don’t see any prosecutor asking for a court order in the state of Mississippi to release evidence before a grand jury,” said Easley.

“Nothing that the state of New York does is going to in any way impact what occurs in the state of Mississippi,” said Allgood.

July 17, Eric Garner was allegedly selling untaxed loose cigarettes on a New York street when approached by police.