MC Law Forum Examines Grand Jury System
A grand jury in Missouri refused to bring criminal charges against a Ferguson police officer in connection with the death of unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown.
After the grand jury’s controversial ruling, riots erupted in Ferguson, Mo. and spread to cities nationwide. When a New York grand jury in December failed to bring charges against NYC police following the chokehold death of an unarmed black man, Eric Garner, demonstrators filled the streets.
The rioting across the USA sparked discussions, too, about America’s criminal justice system. The Mississippi College School of Law will add to the debate by hosting a January 21 panel discussion examining grand jury criminal proceedings.
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood will lead the talks with panel members to include MC Law professor Matt Steffey. Hood takes office this year as president of the National Association of Attorneys General. A lifetime advocate for crime victims, he’s serving his third term as attorney general.
Other speakers invited include metro Jackson attorneys Tom Fortner, Dennis Sweet, John Colette and Cynthia Speetjens.
The program is free and open to the public beginning at 11:30 a.m. that Wednesday. The event is scheduled for the MC Law Student Center auditorium on the downtown Jackson campus.
For more information, contact MC Law director of communications Dana Terry at 601-925-7148 or dterry@mc.edu
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