ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - Earlier today, Superior Court Judge Jeff Foster denied a request to immediately release body camera footage related to the police killing of Andrew Brown Jr. Additionally, Judge Foster placed restrictions on the disclosure of the footage to the Brown family. One of the restrictions allows the family to have only one North Carolina licensed attorney with them when viewing the videos. 

Kristie Puckett-Williams, statewide manager of the ACLU of North Carolina’s Campaign for Smart Justice, released the following statement after the order was announced:

“The Brown family should be able to determine the attorneys who accompany them when viewing footage worn by the agents of the state who took Andrew Brown Jr.’s life.  When the execution of a warrant turns into the execution of a person, North Carolinians should be able to decide the representation they have with them when seeking answers.

“Today’s order has imposed an unnecessary and seemingly arbitrary restriction on who can join the family while viewing body camera footage. This is yet another example of why we need to change our state’s body camera laws.”