Karen Read jury selection ends for the week with 10 jurors selected so far
The first week of jury selection in the Karen Read trial came to a close on Friday inside Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. Ten jurors have been seated so far.
Read's first trial ended with a mistrial due to a "starkly divided" hung jury.
Five men and five women have been added to the jury for the second trial over the first four days. On Friday, one woman selected for the jury was removed but another was gained.
After the 4th day of jury selection in Karen Read’s retrial, there are still 10 seated jurors. Net gain of 0 — but one woman lost from earlier in the week and another gained today. #WBZ
— Kristina Rex (@KristinaRex) April 4, 2025
Of 72 jurors questioned on Friday, 66 had heard of the case, 43 formed an opinion, and 12 felt biased toward one side.
Lawyers and the judge had predicted jury selection could take weeks, but ending week one with 10 jurors is a promising sign things could move quicker.
"The progress we've made is impressive," WBZ Legal Analyst Katherine Loftus said.
Jury selection picks up on Monday. At least six more jurors need to be selected.
Karen Read trial
Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death in connection with the death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe.
O'Keefe and Read were dating, though prosecutors say their relationship had deteriorated. Read is accused of hitting O'Keefe with her car following a night of drinking in 2022 and leaving him to die in the snow outside a home in Canton. Read argues that she is being framed by multiple people, including law enforcement.
Buffer zone lawsuit
State police, the judge, and others are being sued by "Free Karen Read" supporters and local YouTubers for their role in strictly enforcing a buffer zone set in place for the trial.
In federal court in Boston Friday, a lawyer for Free Karen Read protesters argued that they should get to peacefully and quietly protest closer to the courthouse.
"Like I do freelance photography," said Karen Read supporter Christine Mello. "I can't even stand there and take a picture without the threats of being arrested."
Karen Read appeals to Supreme Court
Read on Thursday appealed her case to the U.S. Supreme Court. She is asking the country's highest court to drop two of the three charges against her.
Asked outside court Friday about the appeal, Read said, "I was acquitted on two charges."
The defense argues that jurors in her first trial agreed unanimously to acquit her on the charges of murder and leaving the scene. They say double jeopardy protections in the Constitution should prevent her from being retried on those charges.
So far, other courts have denied Read's appeal.
"They likely won't grant cert when you have four courts below you that have come to the same conclusion," Loftus said. "And the case law is pretty clearly not in favor of Miss Read's position."
How does jury selection work?
Each morning this week, the process started as attorneys introduced themselves and Judge Beverly Cannone gives basic facts of the case.
Then, Cannone questions potential jurors as a group if they know potential witnesses who could take the stand. She also asks prospective jurors if they have heard of the case, if they have formed an opinion already, and if they have a bias toward one side.
Throughout the process, the majority of candidates have answered that they have heard of Read's case.
Potential jurors then fill out questionnaires, and meet with Cannone and attorneys individually. They are either added to the jury or sent home.
How to watch Karen Read trial
The Karen Read trial will be streaming live on CBS News Boston from opening statements right through the verdict.
For a full timeline of the Karen Read case, click here.