Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has denied Karen Read’s emergency request to pause her second murder trial, allowing proceedings to continue despite her double jeopardy appeal.
At a Glance
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson denied Karen Read’s request to delay her retrial
- Read’s defense claims retrying her violates double jeopardy protections
- Jury selection is nearly complete, with 15 of 16 jurors seated
- Read faces life imprisonment if convicted of second-degree murder
- The Supreme Court may consider her appeal on April 25
Justice Jackson Denies Request to Halt Trial
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has rejected Karen Read’s emergency appeal to pause her retrial in the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. The ruling allows Massachusetts prosecutors to move forward with jury selection and trial proceedings, despite Read’s claims that retrying her amounts to double jeopardy.
According to reporting by ABC 7 New York, Jackson—who oversees emergency appeals from the First Circuit—declined to refer the matter to the full Court, opting instead to let the case proceed uninterrupted in state court.
Watch ABC News’ report on the Supreme Court’s decision.
Defense Argues Double Jeopardy Violation
Read’s attorneys filed a writ of certiorari after her first trial ended in a mistrial, arguing that some jurors had agreed to acquit her on at least two of the charges. However, because these decisions were never formally announced in open court, the trial judge declared a hung jury.
In an unusual argument, the defense asserts that these “unanimous but unannounced” verdicts should qualify for Fifth Amendment protection. Legal experts cited by the New York Post note this is a novel legal theory unlikely to sway the high court.
Jury Selection Nears Completion
Jury selection has been underway for more than a week, and 15 of the 16 planned jurors have already been seated. According to WCVB Boston, the panel so far includes eight men and seven women. The final juror is expected to be selected imminently.
Once a full panel is seated, opening arguments will begin in a case that has sharply divided public opinion and spurred frequent demonstrations outside the courthouse.
High Stakes in Upcoming Retrial
If convicted of second-degree murder, Read could face life imprisonment. Prosecutors allege she struck O’Keefe with her SUV during a snowstorm in January 2022 and left him to die of hypothermia. Her defense team claims she is being framed and that the evidence points to another party—possibly linked to a cover-up involving law enforcement.
As reported by AP News, the case has garnered intense local and national attention, particularly due to the high-profile nature of the victim and the allegations of police misconduct.
Though Justice Jackson has allowed the trial to proceed, the U.S. Supreme Court may still decide to take up Read’s double jeopardy appeal when it convenes on April 25, according to Boston.com. Until then, Read’s fate remains in the hands of the Massachusetts court system.
