Karen Read grand juror who leaked information to appear in court

Jessica Leslie, a former grand juror in the high-profile Karen Read case, is scheduled to appear in federal court Tuesday after admitting to leaking confidential grand jury information. Leslie, age 34, agreed to plead guilty to a charge of criminal contempt for willfully disobeying court rules regarding the disclosure of grand jury information. She revealed the names of witnesses and the substance of their testimony while the information was under seal, according to federal prosecutors. Authorities reportedly discovered the leaks through monitoring social media and other communications. In June, Karen Read was acquitted of serious charges related to the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, which drew significant public attention.

Leslie received a one-day sentence, deemed served, and 24 months of supervised release. The case underscores the critical need to maintain the confidentiality of grand jury proceedings. Legal experts believe this incident could influence future policies on transparency and accountability in the justice system.