Who is Alan Jackson? All about Karen Read’s attorney as he speaks out after the not guilty verdict

On June 18, 2025, lawyer Alan Jackson stood on the steps of the Dedham courthouse and gave a heartfelt account after a controversial murder trial. His client, Karen Read, had just been found not guilty of second-degree murder and other serious charges in connection with the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe.

After a lengthy legal fight that seized the nation’s attention, Karen Read was set free, vindicated, having been found guilty only of operating under the influence. Talking about the result, Alan Jackson said:

"I feel like a million dollars... I feel like an innocent woman was just exonerated and vindicated."

Alan Jackson is an experienced criminal defense attorney and a partner at Werksman Jackson & Quinn in Los Angeles. Jackson has developed a formidable reputation over his three-plus decades as a lawyer, successfully handling some of the most daunting criminal cases in the nation.

According to Lexinter Law Directory, prior to transitioning to defense work, he served 18 years as the Assistant Head Deputy in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office’s Major Crimes Division, where he prosecuted several high-profile cases, including the conviction of music producer Phil Spector.

Jackson has had plenty of courtroom experience and has tried more than 85 jury trials, successfully winning 96% of his cases. His expertise has also made him a go-to lawyer for high-stakes cases with celebrity clients and C.E.O.s.

Besides his law practice, he has worked as a legal analyst on national news networks and taught law as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine and Loyola Law School.

Alan Jackson's involvement in Karen Read's case

Alan Jackson’s representation in the Karen Read case displayed his trademark aggressive and meticulous defense. With the help of co-counsel David Yannetti and other legal experts, Jackson worked to construct a narrative that called into question the police investigation itself (New York Post).

The team raised questions about the integrity of investigators, suggested there were plausible other suspects, and revealed a record of troubling behavior by a former Massachusetts Trooper, Michael Proctor, which included the publication of racist text messages and his presumption of guilt.

Their case claimed that Read had been made a scapegoat as part of a broader cover up attempted by the local law enforcement. The defense strategy worked. As they called attention to the prosecution’s inconsistencies, indicated witness credibility was dubious and referenced the destruction of potential evidence.

Now, with the verdict in favor of Karen Read, Alan Jackson’s work on the Read case ensures his place alongside the nation’s most elite defense attorneys.

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"It was the greatest moment I’ve ever had as a professional... It was one of the best moments of Karen’s life, it was one of the best moments of my life." Jackson said.

For Jackson, who started his job as a prison guard and made his way up to high-profile legal cases in recent years, the Read case was another successful win.

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