Kenosha County Circuit Courtroom Choose Bruce Schroeder is thought to be considered as a troublesome jurist.
Throughout in the present day’s line of questioning, Schroeder stopped prosecutor Thomas Binger’s cross-examination of Kyle Rittenhouse to admonish the prosecution workforce’s line of questioning.
The 2 had a testy alternate after the decide requested the jury to depart the courtroom.
Schroeder additionally made headlines final month by reiterating his longstanding rule of not permitting prosecutors to consult with folks as “victims” earlier than juries in his courtroom.
On the similar time, Schroeder mentioned at a pretrial listening to that the boys who had been shot could possibly be described as “looters” or “rioters” if the protection can present they engaged in such exercise throughout protests after a police officer shot Jacob Blake in August 2020, leaving Blake paralyzed.
His determination instantly sparked debate and in some instances outrage in authorized circles and Schroeder, the longest serving energetic decide in Wisconsin’s trial courts was, as soon as once more, thrust into the highlight.
“His phrase is ultimate and he is not afraid to make robust choices,” mentioned Dan Adams, a Wisconsin legal protection legal professional and former prosecutor.
Schroeder, 75, has come beneath scrutiny many instances throughout his almost 40 years on the bench: From a 2018 sentence — thrown out on attraction — requiring a convicted shoplifter to inform retailer managers she was on supervision for retail theft, to ordering AIDS assessments for intercourse employees within the late Eighties.
“He has a popularity for doing what he believes is the appropriate factor and being an impartial thinker,” mentioned William Lynch, a retired legal professional who served on the board of the ACLU of Wisconsin on the time of Schroeder ruling concerning the AIDS assessments.
“And it is his courtroom. He would not prefer to be pushed round by both social gathering. So he has a robust sense of his personal his bearing within the courtroom,” Lynch mentioned.
CNN has sought remark from Schroeder.
A seasoned southeast Wisconsin legal professional who has appeared earlier than Schroeder many instances described the decide as “somebody who has studied the Structure and the enumerated rights for legal defendants and… respects the appropriate of the protection to placed on a protection.”
“He is a brilliant old skool man,” mentioned the legal professional, who requested to not be named as a result of he nonetheless seems earlier than Schroeder.
“And that does not imply that he is previous. I imply he is 75 years previous, which is older than most judges, however he is simply an old-fashioned man. He nonetheless operates his courtroom prefer it’s 1980.”
Schroeder can be 80 when his present phrases ends in 2026.
The Wisconsin protection legal professional who requested to not be recognized famous that Schroeder’s sharp tongue and generally combative method have “mellowed” through the years.
“He barks some and, for youthful attorneys, they’re very delicate to that form of factor. ‘Oh, the decide yelled at me.'” the legal professional mentioned. “Like, toughen up, buttercup. That is felony courtroom. Older attorneys are like, ‘Okay, he yelled at me. After which I noticed him within the hallway and he requested me how my son’s basketball recreation was.’ That is simply his type.”
