Court: Testimony In Eric Garner Case To Remain Sealed

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Efforts to unseal grand jury testimony in the choke hold death of Eric Garner have been stopped by New York's highest court.

The court of appeals said it will not take a look at a lower court ruling that prevented the testimony to be made public, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.

New York City Public Advocate Letitia James previously sued to get the testimony unsealed.

"Individuals should know what happens behind closed doors," James said.

Though this is the end of the road for the suit in state court, James said the grand jury minutes could be released if the federal government decides to charge Officer Daniel Pantaleo for Eric Garner's death. 

"Not to the general public, but to the family," James said.

James and other advocates said they will keep pushing for change in state law that will make the grand jury process more transparent.

"I am undaunted,"James said. "And although I am disappointed at the ruling, I recognize the moral towards justice is long."

Garner died on July 17, 2014, in a controversial confrontation caught on cellphone video with police on Staten Island. In December, a grand jury declined to indict NYPD officer involved, Daniel Pantaleo, and protests erupted on city streets.