NY appeals court denies request to release Eric Garner grand jury transcripts

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The grand jury transcripts in the Eric Garner case will remain sealed.

On Wednesday, a New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division court denied a request to release the transcripts.

Garner died a year ago during his arrest on Staten Island.

Cell phone video shows Officer Daniel Pantaleo putting Garner in an apparent chokehold.

The court said there was no compelling need for disclosure of the grand jury transcripts.

A lower-court judge declined in March to release the testimony following Garner's death, citing longstanding principles of grand jury secrecy.

City Public Advocate Letitia James and legal groups say they'll keep fighting to make the information public. They say people need a clearer view of how grand jurors reached their decision, which ignited protests about police treatment of minorities.

Ex-Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan had argued against releasing the information. He noted grand jurors and witnesses expect confidentiality.

A medical examiner found the chokehold contributed to Garner's death. The officer says he didn't use a chokehold.

(Some information from the Associated Press.)