Karen Read supporters argue their anti-‘buffer zone’ case in federal court

Karen Read supporters are fighting for their right to protest as a federal judge weighs whether to block a buffer zone order that limits them from demonstrating outside the Dedham courthouse U S District Judge Myong J Joun has taken a motion under advisement from four Read supporters that looks to block enforcement of Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone s buffer zone order seeking to restore their First Amendment rights How the hell does a judge have a right to legislate anything outside the courthouse Hopefully we will be able to figure that out in this matter Attorney Marc Randazza notified reporters outside of federal court in Boston Friday afternoon Four Massachusetts residents Jason Grant Allison Taggart Lisa Peterson and Samantha Lyons are behind the complaint arguing their protests outside the courthouse have been peaceful lawful and entirely protected by the First Amendment Ahead of jury selection starting this week Cannone approved a request from Read s prosecutors that a buffer zone be reinstated for the second murder trial with an expansion that includes where supporters often gathered for the first go-around last year Taggart declared she and fellow Read supporters are fighting against what they believe is corruption She added that she believes Cannone is a little biased towards the Commonwealth I could see the need for buffer zones sometimes Taggart communicated reporters but we have no interest in messing with the jury whatsoever we don t want to mess with the trial We have been pushed down to a residential area we don t want to upset the residents We just want to be able to say what we think is wrong In his arguments Randazza highlighted how there have been lots of famous trials that haven t needed buffer zones He expressed concern around how the plaintiffs have been deprived of due process as Cannone imposed the order without allowing them to be heard Assistant Attorney General John R Hitt is opposed to the request that the buffer zone be blocked arguing that the plaintiffs First Amendment claim is non-existent given that the order is content-neutral and does not restrict speech based on its message Read supporters fought the order last year ahead of the first trial but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the buffer zone keeping supporters and opponents at least feet away from the courthouse The buffer zone did not prevent a crowd from growing and supportive honking from passersby which jurors could hear from the courtroom Cannone approved special prosecutor Hank Brennan s buffer zone request citing the possibility of Read s right to a fair trial being jeopardized due to the hordes of supporters holding signs and chanting Brennan had argued the noises could be influential intimidating concerning and required for buffer zone adjustments to prevent the jury from being influenced by outside factors Ten jurors have been chosen for the retrial s jury after the first four days of selection making no further progress from day three Cannone is looking for at least before testimony begins Rendazza is also representing Read supporters Tom Derosier and Michael Bryant described in a civil rights complaint as independent journalists in a fight against Massachusetts State Police for unlawfully barring them from engaging in constitutionally protected newsgathering near the courthouse We are willing to be reasonable but when the police aren t reasonable that s what the courts are for Rendazza disclosed Photo By Matt Stone Boston HeraldAllison Taggart one of the plaintiffs in the buffer zone challenge is seen at far right at another protest at the federal courthouse this time in promotion of Canton resident Sandra Birchmore who the feds say was killed by then-Stoughton cop Matthew Farwell Photo By Matt Stone Boston Herald Charles Krupa Pool photoKaren Read center stands with her legal defense organization at they introduce themselves to prospective jurors during jury selection for her trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham Thursday Charles Krupa Pool photo