Federal Judge Rules Against Free Karen Read Challenge to Judge Cannone’s Buffer Zone

By: Grant Smith-Ellis
Date; 4/11/25
Time; 11:15am ET

It is a glorious day, and we shall dine on the finest muffins and bagels in all of the land.

A federal judge has fully denied a request by Karen Read fans to lift the expanded buffer zone during Read’s re-trial as to the death of John O’Keefe. Both a motion for a TRO and a motion for a preliminary injunction were rejected by Federal District Judge Myong J. Joun.

Judge Joun found the expanded buffer zone to be content neutral, narrowly tailored to serve the compelling state interest of protecting the justice system, and, in a hilarious moment, found the actions of Read’s own supporters during the first trial (as to yelling and encouraging horn honking around the church next to the courthouse) justified the Judge Cannone’s expansion of said buffer zone at the request of state prosecutors.

The constitutional legitimacy of this buffer zone has now been upheld multiple times in state and federal court. For that, we all owe a thank you to Marc Randazza (although I’m not sure if this is the legacy he wanted to leave for the history books).

“In sum," ruled Judge Joun, "the [buffer zone] Extension is limited in scope and time, clearly tailored to ‘ensure the defendant's right to a fair trial,’ [Doc. No 1-4 at 2], and continues to ‘leave [] open ample alternative channels for communication of the information.’ Spicuzza, 484 Mass. at 1008. Such safeguards are 'necessary and appropriate to assure that the administration of justice at all stages is free from outside control and influence.’ Cox, 379 U.S. at 562.”

Judge Joun citing to Louisiana V. Cox (the exact case towel predicted would be central to the buffer zone being upheld) truly made my morning, as I’m sure many of you can imagine. Opening arguments for Read’s re-trial are expected to begin, in a quiet, solemn, environment, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Read the full, devastating, loss for Read’s supporters here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z9Vrtz5Pcw29BDdz0HBGlv72_ePienm2/view?usp=sharing