The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is questioning the recent decision to not indict a Ferguson police officer in the shooting death of Michael Brown. It submitted a letter Monday to Maura McShane, the presiding judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit Court in Missouri, requesting that the court conduct “an immediate and thorough investigation of the grand jury proceedings that resulted in the non-indictment of former Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson.”
The news release states, “the transcripts of the grand jury proceedings reveal questionable prosecutorial tactics that compromised the integrity of the proceedings.” The NAACP says they want the court “to restore public confidence in the St. Louis County justice system by conducting an investigation, convening a new jury and appointing a special prosecutor pursuant to Missouri law.”
According to the release, LDF has worked with lawyers and legal experts from Missouri and across the country, including the Mound City Bar Association, to read and analyze the grand jury transcripts. They say, "our review of these proceedings has raised grave legal concerns, including knowing presentation of false witness testimony, erroneous instructions on the law, and preferential treatment of Mr. Wilson by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office."
