John Burris, the Grant family's civil attorney, gave a lengthy statement for the press following the sentencing of Johannes Mehserle. Burris, who has been present at the trial along with the Grant family, spoke about injustice in the legal system and his surprise that Judge Perry would make a motion for a new trial on the gun enhancement, but then dismiss that charge altogether.

In his opinion of the sentencing, Burris felt that Judge Perry followed the defense's argument entirely and pointed out that Michael Vick received four years for killing dogs while Mehserle received two for taking a human life. Quoting Burris: "A small step was made in the prosecuting of Mr. Mehserle, but a giant step was not made for justice."