Opinion No.

The Honorable Ted C. Capeheart Circuit Judge and Chancellor Ninth Judicial Circuit, West Little River County Courthouse Ashdown, Arkansas 71822

Dear Judge Capeheart:

This is in response to your request for an opinion on whether you may allow the court reporter to turn over a grand jury testimony transcript to the U.S. Attorney, where such transcript has been requested by the U.S. Attorney to investigate the grand jury's failure to indict a state trooper who shot a black man in the Howard County jail.

It is my opinion that it is within your discretion to release the transcript.

Initial reference…