Karen Read hearing could have Alan Jackson in the hot seat. All the details we know so far.
A hearing in Karen's Read's case abruptly ended on Tuesday, when Judge Cannone called off the rest of the day in court amid allegations that defense attorneys may have made misrepresentations to the Court.
Judge has "grave concern"
"The Commonwealth just provided the court with information that causes me grave concern," Cannone said about 20 minutes after calling a recess. "The implications of that information may have profound effects on this defense and defense counsel. So, for that reason I'm going to suspend today, so that when we meet again to address these issues, all affected will be appropriately prepared."
Immediately following the hearing, WBZ Legal Analyst Katherine Loftus said the Judge was likely considering whether to revoke Defense Attorney Alan Jackson's "pro hac vice" status, which gives the California attorney the right to practice in Massachusetts as Read's lawyer for this case. "[Judge Cannone] said not only for the defense, but for defense counsel. I took that as, Alan Jackson is going to be on the hot seat next Tuesday," Loftus said.
On Thursday, Cannone then put out a scheduling order confirming that lawyers should be prepared to argue about prior representations made to the court on the record.
What we know about the facts surrounding these allegations:
- June 10, 2024: In the middle of Read's first trial, outside of the presence of the jury, Defense Attorney David Yannetti argues in front of Judge Cannone about certain upcoming expert witnesses, and allegations from the Commonwealth that defense did not comply with its discovery obligations. This argument, which was heated at times, involved conversations about so-called "ARCCA Experts," independent crash reconstructionists who had been hired as part of a federal investigation into the death of John O'Keefe.
- "These experts did not arise from us," Yannetti said on June 10. "These experts were hired by the federal government, and they provided a report to us, pursuant to the Touhy request, and it was specifically outlined and ruled that they could not prep with us for trial."
- "So, I'm to believe that the defense is calling three witnesses that you've never spoken to, and putting them on the stand here?" Judge Cannone replied. "That's essentially – we've only spoken to them for the purpose of coordination of their testimony, and their background, that's it," Yannetti said. "We have not been able to interview them regarding their findings, which are outlined in detail–"
- After a bit more back and forth, Judge Cannone said, "You have not complied with your Rule 14 obligations," to which David Yannetti responded, "we can't, your Honor. We can't."
- June 24, 2024: ARCCA experts testify at Read's first trial. In his direct examination of them, Defense Attorney Alan Jackson points out that he and the experts had never met, and that they were hired by an independent third-party agency. (Jurors were not allowed to know about the federal investigation, hence the mystery surrounding a "third party.") ARCCA Experts Dr. Andrew Rentschler and Dr. Daniel Wolfe testify that based on their testing, John O'Keefe's injuries were not consistent with having been hit by a car.
- February 12, 2025: The Commonwealth moves to exclude ARCCA experts from Read's second trial, arguing that because of protective orders that prohibit access to the federal investigation details, the defense will not be able to meet its discovery obligations. Karen Read's team filed an opposition to this motion.
- February 18, 2025: In a hearing to cover a number of motions, the Commonwealth argues its motion to exclude ARCCA experts. In doing so, Prosecutor Hank Brennan reads the transcript from June 10 to the Court, in which David Yannetti discussed an inability to prep with ARCCA experts as outlined above. Brennan then reads a series of emails between Defense Attorney Alan Jackson and one of the ARCCA experts, as described below:
- March 22, 2024: Brennan alleges that Alan Jackson emailed the ARCCA expert and mentioned an engagement letter and retainer agreement.
- June 22, 2024 and beyond (exact dates unclear): Brennan alleges Alan Jackson and an ARCCA Expert email to coordinate testimony, and reads a line from the email in which the ARCCA expert tells Jackson to "feel free to make whatever changes you feel necessary." Brennan alleges an outline of questions and answers for a direct examination from ARCCA was sent to the defense, saying the Commonwealth had no knowledge of an outline from this "totally independent witness who took no side other than that of the truth." Brennan alleges the margins of the outline include notes from the ARCCA witness like, "If you don't want me to say this, that's fine."
- As a part of his argument, Brennan says the information he is reading was provided to him by the federal government, not the defense. "Now, this isn't information provided by the defense and reciprocal discovery, this is information provided by the federal government after numerous requests… And I insist to the best that I can to get as much information as I can," he said. After a recess, he then told the judge the information actually was provided to him by defense attorneys.
- February 18, 2025: Brennan finishes his argument by reading a bill from ARCCA to the defense for $23,925. "That's not trial by ambush. That's getting duped," Brennan said. It's unclear if defense actually paid that bill. Judge Cannone takes a sudden recess, comes back after about 25 minutes, and suspends the hearing without further discussion, saying she has "grave concerns." WBZ's Kristina Rex asks Alan Jackson outside court what that was about, to which he says he has "no idea." When asked if he paid ARCCA experts to testify at Read's first trial," Jackson says, "No, of course not, no."
- February 20, 2025: Judge Cannone issues a scheduling order that reads, in part, "Counsel should be prepared to address issues related to the Defendant's recent production pursuant to Rule 14, especially as the materials produced relate to prior representations made to the court on the record by defense counsel concerning the ARCCA witnesses."
Retired judge says "This is ominous"
Regarding Judge Cannone's order, retired Massachusetts Judge Jack Lu told WBZ, "This is ominous. Mr. Jackson needs a top-shelf professional responsibility lawyer asap."
The issue on Tuesday, Judge Lu says, will be about whether Alan Jackson and defense counsel made misrepresentations to the Court during the first trial about prepping with and paying ARCCA witnesses.
Alan Jackson is a California-licensed attorney who was given special status, known as pro hac vice, to be Karen Read's lawyer in Massachusetts.
"This is a complicated situation," Lu said. "It appears that California does not have a requirement that the defense disclose promises, rewards, and inducements to a witness. I am not a member of the California bar. If we assume Mr. Jackson doesn't not know about this Massachusetts requirement, it is immensely helpful to him. Technically, he is required to know Mass law, but we have to understand that these are fallible humans trying a homicide case."
"If Mr. Yannetti does not know about Mr. Jackson's invitation for an engagement letter, retainer request and possibly a bill, and Mr. Jackson' possibly small preparation of the witness(es) he cannot fairly be held responsible," Lu explained. "The same analysis holds true if the question is whether they violated a continuing duty to disclose any of this information and no disclosable information existed at the time of Mr. Yannetti's statement. We don't know the facts but as an attorney discipline matter it is unfair to penalize fallible lawyers acting in good faith for technical violations."
This issue will be argued at a hearing on Tuesday, February 25 at 11 a.m.
Who is Karen Read?
Karen Read is accused of hitting and killing her boyfriend, former Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV during a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022.
She says she is the victim of a cover-up by law enforcement and others and 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.
Read's first trial last year ended in a mistrial with a "starkly divided" hung jury. Read's second criminal trial is scheduled to start on April 1, 2025 in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham.
