In a minor incident at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, proceedings were temporarily halted during the Karen Read trial on Friday to accommodate a juror's request for a fan. The juror, who was visibly overheating, motioned to Judge Beverly Cannone around 2:30 p.m., prompting the judge to pause the cross-examination of ATF Agent Brian Higgins. A fan was promptly installed in the courtroom to address the uncomfortable conditions.

The temperature at the time of the incident stood at 83 degrees, making the courthouse air feel stuffy even on relatively mild days. Efforts are made by court officers to improve airflow by opening windows, but this trade-off exposes the trial to external disturbances. The smaller courtroom, where the Read trial has been ongoing since late April, is particularly affected by noise disruptions from the nearby busy central artery on High Street.

Friday's incident was just one in a series of interruptions caused by the noise from outside. Approximately an hour after the fan was brought in, Higgins' cross-examination was once again disrupted, this time by the blaring siren of an emergency vehicle passing by. Such occurrences have become relatively frequent during the trial, often causing delays of up to a minute.

Balancing comfort and efficiency in the old courthouse has proven to be a ongoing challenge throughout the trial. The need for cooling measures becomes even more pressing with rising temperatures. While court officers attempt to maintain a cross breeze by opening or cracking windows, the resulting noise from outside traffic can disrupt the proceedings.

Despite these challenges, the trial of Karen Read continues at Norfolk Superior Court, with efforts being made to ensure the comfort of the jurors while mitigating distractions. The installation of fans and the courtroom's openness to address temperature concerns indicate a commitment to maintaining an environment conducive to fair and unbiased proceedings.