- Supreme Court denies emergency stay for Karen Read's retrial
- 15 jurors seated as of April 9, 2025
- Defense argues double jeopardy over alleged prior acquittals
- Prosecution maintains charges of second-degree murder and leaving scene
The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Karen Read's controversial murder retrial this week, rejecting her emergency petition without comment. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson formally denied the request to delay proceedings while the court considers constitutional arguments about potential double jeopardy violations.
Jury selection advanced Wednesday at Norfolk Superior Court with three new panelists sworn in, bringing the total to 15 jurors. Court officials aim to seat 16 participants – 12 primary jurors and four alternates – before opening arguments commence. Both legal teams have expended most of their peremptory challenges, signaling intense scrutiny of potential biases.
Read faces renewed charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident involving her Boston police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe. The 2022 case gained national attention due to conflicting narratives about whether O'Keefe died from blunt force trauma during a snowstorm or suffered a hypothermia-related accident.
Legal analysts note this retrial underscores Massachusetts' unique approach to mistrial protocols. Unlike federal courts, state judges here maintain broader discretion to order retrials after hung juries. However, Read's defense team contends four jurors from the initial trial submitted affidavits claiming they'd voted to acquit on two charges before the mistrial declaration.
Prosecutors counter that official court records show no formal acquittals, preserving their authority to retry all original charges. This procedural clash highlights growing debates about juror transparency in high-stakes cases. Recent Massachusetts Bar Association reports show 43% of criminal retrials now involve post-verdict juror interviews compared to 18% a decade ago.
As the Dedham courtroom prepares for trial proceedings, community tensions remain palpable. Local business owners report increased foot traffic from journalists and legal observers, while O'Keefe's family continues advocating for what they call accountability through due process.The case's outcome could influence pending Massachusetts legislation (HB 2257) seeking to limit retrials after mistrials with partial verdicts.
