One of the members of the grand jury that decided not to indict a Ferguson, Mo., police officer in the Michael Brown shooting has sued the St. Louis County prosecutor who oversaw the case, St. Louis Public Radio reported Monday.
The St. Louis County grand juror, who is remaining anonymous, alleges that prosecutor Robert McCulloch’s “public characterization” of the grand jury does not reflect the juror’s own views.
“In [the grand juror]’s view, the current information available about the grand jurors’ views is not entirely accurate — especially the implication that all grand jurors believed that there was no support for any charges,” the lawsuit says, per the news outlet. “Moreover, the public characterization of the grand jurors’ view of witnesses and evidence does not accord with [Doe]’s own.”
The lawsuit asks for an injunction that would allow the juror to speak publicly about the Brown case. The juror is being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri.
The legal standards in the investigation of Officer Darren Wilson’s August shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown were also “muddled” and presented in an “untimely” manner, according to the lawsuit.
“From [the grand juror]’s perspective, the investigation of Wilson had a stronger focus on the victim than in other cases presented to the grand jury,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit argues that First Amendment rights outweigh the typical rules of secrecy that regulate grand juries. The plaintiff also takes a shot at McCulloch’s vow for transparency and his releasing huge amounts of grand jury documents.
“From [Doe]’s perspective, although the release of a large number of records provides an appearance of transparency, with heavy redactions and the absence of context, those records do not fully portray the proceedings before the grand jury,” the lawsuit reads.
McCulloch’s office did not immediately return TPM’s request for comment.
heh
Color me surprised by these revelations.
Sorry, McCulloch. You aren’t the Lorax, and the jurors aren’t trees.
Another stupid lawsuit clogging courts. Whether the allegations are true or not, prosecutors have absolute immunity from suits over actions they take as prosecutors. Period.
I’m sure a difficult decision for this person and a difficult and personally disappointing experience witnessing hidden corruption and public manipulation so directly. I hope America can prove herself to this brave person.