True crime reporters blocked outside courthouse where Karen Read is on trial file First Amendment lawsuit

Two New England existent transgression reporters person filed a suit against Massachusetts State Police for allegedly blocking them from covering the quality extracurricular the courthouse wherever Karen Read's 2nd execution proceedings successful the decease of John O'Keefe kicked disconnected this week.

The suit stems from a court-ordered "buffer zone" to support protesters astatine a distance, but the journalists allege constabulary hassled them wrong the portion adjacent though it is not expected to use to those not protesting.

The suit names Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Geoffrey Noble and MSP Sgt. Michael Hardman and includes 2 further unnamed authorities troopers.

KAREN READ APPEALS DOUBLE JEOPARDY RULING TO US SUPREME COURT

Karen Read exits Norfolk Superior Court successful Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Dario Alequin for Fox News Digital)

"The Buffer Zone successful Karen Read's proceedings has present morphed into a 'no journalism zone,'" the plaintiffs' attorney, Marc Randazza, wrote connected X successful a station astir the lawsuit. He is besides representing 4 protesters who sued Judge Beverly Cannone earlier this week implicit the size of the no-protest area.

State constabulary declined to comment, citing their argumentation connected discussing pending litigation. 

Media attraction focuses connected the courthouse for the accomplishment of Karen Read for her execution retrial astatine Norfolk Superior Court successful Dedham, Mass., Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

One of the plaintiffs is Michel Bryant, a existent transgression shaper from Connecticut whose enactment has appeared connected A&E, Hulu and Netflix. His lawyers accidental helium was interviewing a antheral named John Delgado wrong the buffer portion Tuesday.

PROBE OF TOWN POLICE IN KAREN READ CASE FINDS NO SIGN OF ‘CONSPIRACY TO FRAME’ SLAIN OFFICER'S GIRLFRIEND

Karen Read kissing John O'Keefe successful an undated photograph. (Courtesy of Karen Read)

"The First Amendment is evidently sacrosanct, and the quality to study connected a transgression oregon a proceedings is important for reporters."

KAREN READ AND JOHN O'KEEFE: INSIDE EVOLUTION OF BOSTON MURDER MYSTERY SINCE JULY MISTRIAL

While Bryant's lawyers accidental Delgado was not actively protesting, helium was wearing a sticker that said, "Real Justice for John O’Keefe FKR." 

Read the lawsuit:

FKR is an acronym for "Free Karen Read," a slogan immoderate of her supporters person utilized successful protests extracurricular the courthouse astatine past hearings.

GO HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF THE 2ND KAREN READ TRIAL

Critics of Karen Read stitchery extracurricular the courthouse successful Dedham, Mass., June 28, 2024.  (Patriot Pics/Backgrid for Fox News Digital)

Two unidentified authorities constabulary officers allegedly told Bryant helium had to get extracurricular the buffer portion and told Delgado his sticker has "gotta go" earlier taking it disconnected his jacket.

"I don’t privation to spot you walking by present again," the officer, identified lone arsenic John Doe 1, allegedly told Delgado.

An unnamed serviceman takes a sticker disconnected John Delgado's overgarment successful this inactive representation from a livestream recorded by writer Michel Bryant. (Courtesy of Michel Bryant)

Bryant, who is besides an Emmy victor and a lawyer, posted a clip of the brushwood to his YouTube channel, wherever the "Justice Served" podcast is co-hosted by Linda Kenney Baden, a high-profile transgression defence lawyer and ineligible analyst.

Bryant told Fox News Digital helium is not a "Free Karen Read person" and was covering the lawsuit similar helium has covered galore trials implicit the years erstwhile the enactment took place.

Matthew Pervier of Worcester holds a motion helium made successful enactment of Karen Read extracurricular of Norfolk Superior Court successful Dedham, Mass., April 16, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger)

"Were we arrested? No. Were we changeable at, enactment successful a headlock? No," Bryant said. "But wherefore can't you locomotion down the nationalist sidewalk, particularly erstwhile the tribunal bid doesn't code that issue?"

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

Also connected Monday, podcaster Tom Derosier of "Seeking Justice with Tom and Mike," alleged Sgt. Hardman "verbally assaulted him."

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

"You don’t person media credentials. You’ve got to spell down the buffer zone, OK, oregon you’re going to beryllium taxable to arrest," Hardman allegedly told him. "Go travel them. You’re being told close now."

Karen Read supporters rally connected the beforehand steps of the Registry of Deeds building. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

"I'm not media?" Derosier, a Massachusetts resident, asked, according to the lawsuit.

"No, you’re not," Hardman allegedly replied.

Both men recorded the interactions and included them successful tribunal filings with the lawsuit.

"I deliberation the reporters are astir apt connected coagulated ineligible ground," said Andrew Stoltmann, a Chicago-based lawyer who has handled First Amendment cases successful the past and teaches astatine Northwestern University's School of Law. 

"The justice has implicit powers successful his courtroom to forestall parties oregon witnesses from talking astir the case, but trying to gag a newsman that’s not successful the courtroom is constitutionally very, precise fishy for some the justice and the constabulary officers who are trying to enforce it."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Jury enactment is underway for Read's 2nd trial. The archetypal ended successful a mistrial July 1 aft jurors could not hold connected a verdict.

She faces charges of murder, manslaughter and leaving the country of a deadly hit-and-run for allegedly backing her Lexus SUV into O'Keefe successful January 2022 and leaving him connected the crushed to dice during a blizzard.

She has pleaded not blameworthy and denied the allegations, and her defence is arguing she was framed.