Latest news with #AlanJackson
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
What to expect from Alan Jackson in Karen Read's second trial
The Karen Read trial has garnered national attention, and one of the key figures in the case is defense attorney Alan Jackson. Here's what to know about Read's high-profile lead attorney as the prosecution has rested its case and the defense took over. The prosecution in Read's second trial rested on Thursday, handing the case over to the defense team made up of Jackson, David Yannetti, Bob Alessi and Elizabeth Little. Who is Alan Jackson? Jackson is a criminal defense attorney from the law firm Werksman Jackson & Quinn. A biography on the firm's website describes Jackson as "one of the country's most sought-after criminal defense attorneys." According to the firm, Jackson has tried more than 85 cases to a jury verdict, and has a 96% success rate. Jackson was the lead prosecutor for the Los Angeles Count District Attorney's office during the case against music producer Phil Spector, who was convicted of killing actress Lana Clarkson. "His client list reads like a who's who of Hollywood celebrities, NBA stars, billionaire CEOs, and foreign dignitaries—all turning to him for 'must-win' cases," Jackson's biography reads. Karen Read's lawyer Alan Jackson Prosecutors accuse Read of hitting and killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV after a night of drinking and leaving him to die in the snow. When Read was first arrested, her only attorney was Yannetti. In the recently released HBO documentary "A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read," Yannetti, Read and Jackson discussed how the defense team expanded. Yannetti said it became clear the case was going to require a lot of work. Read said in the documentary that she called the Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Institute. A professor told her to look into actor Kevin Spacey's case on Nantucket, where he was accused of groping an 18-year-old. Jackson represented Spacey, and the felony charge of indecent assault and battery was eventually dropped. Read said she looked into the case, and that was how she learned about Jackson's work. "I got an email and the subject line of the email with something along the lines of 'Murder of a Boston Cop.' I took one look at the autopsy photos of John O'Keefe, and I saw his arm, and I said, 'Are you kidding me? He was hit by a car?'" Jackson recounted in the documentary. Read's attorneys have argued that injuries to O'Keefe's arm were caused by a dog during the alleged fight. With Jackson added to Read's defense team, the case began to garner national attention. Karen Read and attorney Alan Jackson look at the empty jury box while listening to Judge Cannone during Read's murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool What to expect from Alan Jackson WBZ-TV legal analyst Katherine Loftus noted that compared to Read's first trial, Jackson took a bit of a back seat during the prosecution's case in the retrial. Alessi, not Jackson, cross-examined several key witnesses. That included the medical examiner and several forensic experts. Loftus said she believes that will change during the defense's case, which Read told reporters will take 1.5 to 2 weeks compared to just two days the first time. "I think [Alan Jackson] is probably going to take the majority of the defense case," Loftus said. "They really have two potential ways they can go. We might know right off the bat as soon as we see who the first witness is whether they are going to go with what they did trial No. 1, which was this framing, third party, point the fingers. Or if they're really going to focus on the police, Michael Proctor, conflict of interest, substandard, you can't find her guilty." Karen Read trial Jackson and Read's legal team have not been allowed to speak publicly about the case since March 7. That's when Cannone approved a gag order in the case, applying to all attorneys from both sides. As a result, Read has served as a de facto spokesperson throughout her second trial. Regularly when court ends for the day, Read speaks to reporters while leaving Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham with her legal team. Inside the courtroom, Jackson has had several fiery exchanges with witnesses. In Read's first trial, Jackson had contentious exchanges with Brian Albert, Brian Higgins, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe. Read's defense has argued these are some of the people at the center of an alleged attempt to frame Read for O'Keefe's death. Jackson has also clashed with Judge Beverly Cannone on several occasions since joining the case. During a March 2025 hearing ahead of Read's second trial, Cannone accused Jackson of making "repeated misrepresentations to the court." The judge met with Read and her attorneys privately during the hearing. Cannone decided not to revoke Jackson's credential to practice in Massachusetts, which he is required to have because he is an out-of-state lawyer. After that hearing, WBZ-TV's Kristina Rex asked Read outside court how she felt about her attorneys staying on the case. "Amazing. Amazing," Read said. "There's no other attorneys I'd rather have than my attorneys."
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Watch Live: Karen Read trial resumes as prosecution's case nears end
The Karen Read trial is back inside Norfolk Superior Court on Tuesday for the first time in nearly a week as the prosecution could be entering the final days of its case. You can watch testimony live on CBS News Boston when it begins at 9 a.m. by clicking on the video player above. The prosecution accuses Read of hitting and killing Boston police officer John O'Keefe, who she was dating at the time, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the cold outside Brian Albert's home in Canton after a night of heavy drinking. Read argues she is being framed and O'Keefe was actually killed during a fight inside the home at 34 Fairview Road. The defense could get the case at some point in the coming days. Read told reporters outside of court recently that Dr. Judson Welcher from Aperture LLC is expected to be the prosecution's final witness. Lawyers cannot confirm when Welcher or other witnesses will take the stand because they remain under a gag order. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan has been questioning the majority of witnesses. Alan Jackson has questioned most of witnesses on cross-examination for the defense, with David Yannetti and Bob Alessi questioning some as well. Karen Read trial schedule Full days of testimony are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. A half day of testimony is scheduled to take place on Thursday. Judge Beverly Cannone delayed the start of Wednesday's witness testimony when she said an "issue" came to her attention that required her to question every juror individually at sidebar. When court proceedings resumed, all jurors were still present, though two had changed seats. Last week's witnesses included a forensic analyst discussing the movement of Read's Lexus SUV, a brain surgeon, and a crime lab analyst.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Country music star gives emotional speech on stage after incurable disease diagnosis
Following his announcement of having an incurable disease, a famous country singer wrapped up his final stop on tour. While on stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Alan Jackson delivered a heartfelt speech to the crowd. 'Y'all may have heard that I'm kinda winding downing, and in fact this is my last road show of my career,' Jackson told the audience. 'Y'all gonna make me tear up out here. But I will say, this is my last road show out here, but we're planning on doing a big finale show in Nashville next summer sometime. It just felt like I had to end it all where it all started. And that's in Nashville, Tennessee — Music City,' Jackson continued, adding, 'so I gotta do the last one there.' In September 2021, Jackson revealed his diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a rare chronic illness that affects the nerves that control muscle movement, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It's a condition that usually affects how someone feels in their feet and hands. The disease is not curable, but physical therapy and assistive devices or shoes can be used as treatments. Jackson addressed the diagnosis during an interview on NBC's 'Today' in 2021. 'I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,' Jackson said during the interview. 'It's genetic that I inherited from my no cure for it, but it's been affecting me for years. And it's getting more and more obvious. And I know I'm stumbling around on stage. And now I'm having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable.' 'It's not going to kill me. It's not deadly. But it's related (to) muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease,' he added. Concern is building over TSA facial recognition tech. Here's how to opt out Food hub to launch at Worcester's Union Station in June Lynnfield man found dead in apartment played semi-pro football Mass. casino winner: $1 bet ends in jackpot win Meet the Mass. lawmaker marshaling the resistance to Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wawa awaits approval to take the place of vacant Frisch's restaurant, active apartment complex
An active apartment complex and a vacant Frisch's could soon turn to rubble as a new gas station awaits approval to take their place. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7's Malik Patterson spoke with tenants living next door to the vacant Frisch's. Hear more about the new plans for the 'eyesore' building LIVE on News Center 7 at 5:30. TRENDING STORIES: Grammy-nominated R&B artist to perform at Fraze Pavilion Body of 5-year-old girl found; third death in Ohio train collision Final tour stop: Alan Jackson confirms end of touring due to health The Montgomery County Planning and Zoning Commission will determine the fate of the former Frisch's on South Dixie Drive in Moraine at their meeting Tuesday night. People living in the apartment complex next door have said the vacant restaurant has become an eyesore over the last two years. A real estate group is hoping to move in, demolish, and build a new Wawa in its place. We will continue to update this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Los Angeles Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Country star Alan Jackson retires from touring
Country star Alan Jackson has retired from touring after more than three decades on the road. Jackson, 66, had previously announced that he would end his touring career after battling health issues. His current live run, Last Call: One More for the Road Tour, ended in Milwaukee on Saturday. 'Y'all may have heard that I'm kinda winding down,' Jackson told the crowd onstage. 'In fact, this is my last road show of my career. Y'all gonna make me tear up out here.' That show is likely not the final performance of Jackson's career, though. 'We're planning on doing a big finale show in Nashville next summer sometime,' he told the crowd. 'I just felt like I had to end it all where it all started, and that's in Nashville, Tenn. But this is the last one out on the road for me.' Jackson began this tour a year after revealing his struggles with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a nerve condition related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease that impacts his motor skills. While not fatal, the disease does not yet have a cure and, Jackson has said, it affects his ability to perform live. The 'Chattahoochee' singer and two-time Grammy winner has said he hopes to continue writing and record, however. 'I feel like there'll be some more music to come, yes,' he said on his daughter Mattie Jackson's podcast in 2023. 'The creative part jumps out every now and then.' Jackson is one of the bestselling and most-decorated acts in modern country music. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
