def create_view(self, state_root_hash=None):
        """Creates a StateView for the given state root hash.

        Args:
            state_root_hash (str): The state root hash of the state view
                to return.  If None, returns the state view for the
        Returns:
            StateView: state view locked to the given root hash.
        """
        # Create a default Merkle database and if we have a state root hash,
        # update the Merkle database's root to that
        if state_root_hash is None:
            state_root_hash = INIT_ROOT_KEY

        merkle_db = MerkleDatabase(self._database,
                                   merkle_root=state_root_hash)

        return StateView(merkle_db)