The names of the jurors from the Karen Read murder trial that ended in a mistrial will remain secret, Judge Beverly Cannone ruled on Monday.
This impoundment order for the Canton case came on the same day that Read’s defense attorneys claimed that a juror approached them to reveal how the jury was voting behind closed doors.
But the public won’t know the names of the 12 Norfolk County residents who sat on the much-talked-about jury — at least for now. Cannone, the Superior Court judge, issued the “Order of Impoundment” on Monday.
“This case has garnered significant and divisive attention in Massachusetts and across the nation,” Cannone wrote in the order. “The trial was livestreamed on local and national broadcasting channels.
“The proceedings continue to be the daily subject of commentary on various social media platforms,” the judge added. “People associated with the case have been charged with intimidation.”
Cannone acknowledged that the names of empanelled jurors who render a verdict in a criminal case must be made available to the public.
“The jury in this case did not render a verdict, however, the Court concludes that there is a real and present ‘risk of [personal] harm to the jurors [and] to the integrity of their service,’ ” Cannone wrote. “Consequently, the Court finds that good cause exists to impound the list identifying the names of empanelled jurors in the trial of this case.
“The Court further concludes that there is a risk of immediate and irreparable injury should the list be made available to the public at this time,” the judge added.
The order will expire in 10 days, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
