Call for Open Public Hearings to Restore Confidence After Garner Decision

NEW YORK, NY (12/10/2014)(readMedia)-- Contacts:

Susan Lerner, Common Cause/NY (212) 691-6421

Juan Cartagena, LatinoJustice (212) 219-3360

Donna Lieberman, NYCLU (212) 607-3300

Dick Dadey, Citizens Union (212) 227-0342

Jacqueline Ebanks, Women's City Club (212) 353-8070

Today, civil rights, civil liberties and good government groups sent a letter to Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders in Albany calling for open public hearings and a transparent and participatory legislative process following the failure of a Staten Island grand jury to indict the police officer whose chokehold resulted in the death of Eric Garner.

The signatories to the letter are the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Center for Constitutional Rights, Citizens Union, Common Cause NY, Community Voices Heard, Hispanic Federation, Latino Justice PRLDEF, NAACP New York State Conference, New York Civil Liberties Union, New York Immigration Coalition, VOCAL-NY, and the Women's City Club of New York. Their letter demands that Albany leaders immediately schedule joint, open public hearings of the two houses' Codes and Judiciary Committees throughout the state to hear testimony and consider proposals to reform the grand jury and criminal justice system as soon as possible after the New Year.

"The broad public outcry following the grand jury decision on Staten Island last week indicates that a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system is warranted and long overdue," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause NY. "Public input and participation in that review is not optional. A process following well-worn Albany patterns of secrecy, crafting measures behind closed doors without significant opportunity for public feedback, will fuel, rather than address, public outrage."

"Reforming the grand jury and criminal justice system is a process that demands transparent and open dialogue among many different groups and constituencies," said Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. "All New Yorkers should have the right to discuss, listen, comment and advocate during this extremely important process. It is imperative that the legislature start this process as quickly as possible."

"The failure to secure an indictment in the killing of Eric Garner leaves New Yorkers with an inescapable question: Do black lives matter?," asked New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. "Much remains to be done to repair the culture of policing in New York. An open, transparent, deliberative process to review the failings of the criminal justice system is the right place to start."

"It is vital that New York's elected leaders ensure that the public can confidently express their concerns and suggestions to reform our grand jury and criminal justice processes, particularly at this critical time. Citizens Union fully supports and recommends that open hearings take place throughout the state to provide a platform in which the public can meaningfully participate and be heard," said Dick Dadey, Executive Director, Citizens Union.

"We want to see reform of the system now and it must be inclusive and transparent," said Jacqueline Ebanks, Executive Director, Women's City Club of New York.

In order to address the public's desire for change and to gain public trust and support, any reform proposals and resulting legislative action must take place in full public view with myriad opportunities for the public to be heard and participate. The repeated failures across the country to indict officers involved in the deaths of young black men raise serious and disquieting questions about whether the legal standard applied in these situations meets community expectations of police accountability. Fostering good relations between the police and communities is essential for residents' confidence in their government, and open public hearings on any criminal justice reforms are an essential first step to restoring that trust.

Letter to Governor Cuomo, Senate and Assembly leaders attached.

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