Judge Bruce Schroeder (Rittenhouse Trial) to Retire on November 27, 2023

Kenosha Judge Bruce Schroeder (Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

 

Judge Schroeder came into the national spotlight as the judge which presided over the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kyle Rittenhouse had to kill two people in self defense, and wound another, during the Kenosha riots in

Kenosha Wisconsin Superior Court Judge Bruce Schroeder has decided to retire as of November 27, 2023. Judge Schroeder served for 40 years, six months, and two days as a circuit court judge. The State of Wisconsin and the United States were served well by this dedicated and respected judge.

This correspondent covered the Rittenhouse case extensively. The case had been grievously misrepresented in the old media. In particular, the old media had believed the false narrative of the politically motivated prosecution in the case. A law that did not exist was used to charge Rittenhouse with a weapons offense. Eventually, Judge Schroeder threw out the bogus charge. Charges were brought against Rittenhouse before the evidence was even examined. What made the case compelling was video of all the important events. There was no serious contention about what happened. The only controversy was about what was in Kyle Rittenhouse's mind when he was attacked. Kyle's testimony was very credible.

Judge Schroeder, quite correctly, did not follow the case in the media. This proved critical because he did not have pre-conceived notions of who did what to whom. For example, Judge Schroeder refused to allow anyone in the case to be called a "victim". To do so would prejudice the jury. Much the trial was to determine who was the real victim. The jury concluded the real victim was Kyle Rittenhouse.

It would not have happened with a judge who tilted with the political winds. The pressure on Judge Schroeder to allow the prosecutors to convict Kyle Rittenhouse in a political trial, was immense. The full force of the Left and the national media were focused on the trial, and they had a very hard time believing what the evidence showed them to be the facts.

Those who had actually researched the case and looked at the evidence were not surprised.

Judge Schroeder showed what an ethical and competent judge should do in these cases. Some in the media were horrified to see Judge Schroeder refuse to allow the prosecutors to run roughshod over the Constitution and witnesses.

The case should never have been brought for prosecution. The Jury unanimously found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty of all charges. Some commentators said Judge Schroeder should have declared a mistrial because of the misconduct of the prosecutors. Judge Schroeder trusted the jury to do the right thing. The prosecutors attempted to create a political show trial, but Judge Schroeder would not stand for it. Judge Schroeder, from the beginning, stated he would not allow the trial to become a political trial.

In the end, Judge Schroeder did what his long experience and training in the law required. He acted as the impartial referee between adversaries, which is how our adversarial trial system is supposed to work. Judge Schroeder upheld the law as written.  The jury did the right thing. Kyle Rittenhouse is a free man, and the right to defend yourself has been reinforced.

Thank you, Judge Schroeder. You are a great example of an ethical judge, who should be emulated all over the United States of America.

 

©2023 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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