Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he’s considering proposals to provide the public more information about secretive grand jury proceedings in the wake of the Eric Garner case.
“If the public doesn’t trust the justice system, you have a problem. So we have to restore the trust in the justice system,” Cuomo said after a press conference at Hofstra University.
In a controversial decision, a Staten Island grand jury in December cleared Officer Daniel Pantaleo in Garner’s death based on evidence brought by local District Attorney Dan Donovan, setting off massive protests across the city.
The decision triggered cries to open up the grand jury proceedings to find out how the jurors came to their decision after a video showed the officer taking Garner down with what appeared to be a chokehold.
Cuomo said he’s struggling with how to disclose grand jury deliberations while protecting the privacy of witnesses and jurors.
“I’m looking for ways to provide more confidence in the criminal justice system, and secrecy was designed for obvious protections. But the challenge for us is how do you have transparency so people can understand what went on, and it’s not a black box . . . that’s what we’re working on.”
Cuomo met Tuesday with Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and Detectives Endowment Association head Michael Palladino to discuss criminal justice issues.



