Saturday 20 November 2021

Rittenhouse judge - who was put on the bench in 1983 by a Democratic governor - brings down gavel on trial after being slammed as a racist and weathering a torrent of abusive and menacing messages

 Trial TV cameras may have focused on Kyle Rittenhouse after his acquittal, but another person in the courtroom attracted much of the spotlight during the explosive case – Judge Bruce Schroeder.

The 75-year-old jurist has earned a reputation for his mix of approachability and a no-nonsense attitude that can make his position brutally clear.

Schroeder, appointed in 1983 and the longest serving circuit judge in Wisconsin, enjoys a good lunch, likes to quote from classic works and has Lee Greenwood’s 1984 patriotic anthem God Bless The USA as his cell phone ringtone.

Legal observers have labeled him 'old school', a man who shoots from the hip and is not worried about public perception.

Judge Bruce Schroeder is seen during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Judge Bruce Schroeder is seen during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Judge Bruce Schroeder, right, listens as the verdicts are ready by Judicial Assistant Tami Mielcarek in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Friday

Judge Bruce Schroeder, right, listens as the verdicts are ready by Judicial Assistant Tami Mielcarek in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Friday 

Numerous emails are, of course, sent anonymously or using pseudonyms

Numerous emails are, of course, sent anonymously or using pseudonyms

One email addressed to 'Your Honor' reads, 'I didn't know that under your black robes of justice you wear a white robe of the klan

One email addressed to 'Your Honor' reads, 'I didn't know that under your black robes of justice you wear a white robe of the klan

The hate-filled missives were sent as a direct response to the judge's ruling last month that prosecutors could not refer to Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz - the men shot by Rittenhouse - as 'victims'

The hate-filled missives were sent as a direct response to the judge's ruling last month that prosecutors could not refer to Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz - the men shot by Rittenhouse - as 'victims'

Other threatening notes were sent to the judge with one group saying 'we're watching'

Other threatening notes were sent to the judge with one group saying 'we're watching'

Another person, who even gave their name and email address threatened to spit at the judge

Another person, who even gave their name and email address threatened to spit at the judge

Other furious emails were sent to the judge furious at his instruction to not describe the two people who were killed in the case as 'vicitms'

Other furious emails were sent to the judge furious at his instruction to not describe the two people who were killed in the case as 'vicitms'

One of the biggest decisions he made that drew criticism was dismissing the misdemeanor weapons possession charge over Rittenhouse’s AR-15 rifle, one of the easiest for prosecutors to prove.

Schroeder threw it out hours before jurors were due to begin deliberations after the defense lawyers found a loophole from a 1991 bill that allows minors to own rifles that do not have short barrels.

The judge also dramatically halted the trial temporarily to lambaste the lead prosecutor after asking the jury to leave the court. Kenosha Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger had veered into a line of inquiry regarding a video allegedly expressing a desire to shoot looters.

The daughter of Judge Bruce Schroeder, seen posing here with her parents Donna and Bruce

The daughter of Judge Bruce Schroeder, seen posing here with her parents Donna and Bruce

Judge Bruce E. Schroeder, 75, defendant Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois and his lead defense lawyer Mark D. Richards look at a screen during the trial

Judge Bruce E. Schroeder, 75, defendant Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois and his lead defense lawyer Mark D. Richards look at a screen during the trial

On Thursday Judge Bruce Schroeder revealed that he had been sent offensive emails during the trial, some calling him a racist

On Thursday Judge Bruce Schroeder revealed that he had been sent offensive emails during the trial, some calling him a racist

Judge Bruce Schroeder goes over the jury instructions with the prosecution and defense during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse

Judge Bruce Schroeder goes over the jury instructions with the prosecution and defense during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse

‘Don’t get brazen with me! You know very well that an attorney can’t go into these types of areas where the judge has already ruled without asking outside the presence of the jury … so don’t give me that,’ he railed at Binger.

The judge, a tough former prosecutor, was attacked even before the trial started for ruling the men Rittenhouse shot should not be described as ‘victims’. He said it was a ‘loaded, loaded word’. Meanwhile he allowed defense lawyers to call them ‘arsonists’ and ‘looters’.

Schroeder was also slammed as a racist and had his life threatened in a torrent of abusive and menacing emails, letters, postcards and faxes received by Kenosha County Courthouse and seen by DailyMail.com. 

We exclusively reviewed the hundreds of offensive communications sent to him - revealing the extraordinary outpouring of vitriol that the high-profile trial inspired.

One email read simply, ‘Wow way to name a white skinhead hot head to be a judge. No wonder they burn down your city.’

Judge Bruce Schroeder uses his smartphone as a prop as attorneys for both sides in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial argue about how a photo can be distorted when enlarged

Judge Bruce Schroeder uses his smartphone as a prop as attorneys for both sides in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial argue about how a photo can be distorted when enlarged

'The judge. The jury. The defendant. It’s white supremacy in action,' ranted Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) on Twitter

'The judge. The jury. The defendant. It’s white supremacy in action,' ranted Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) on Twitter

MSNBC commentator Joy-Ann Reid tweeted that the judge acted more like a juror

MSNBC commentator Joy-Ann Reid tweeted that the judge acted more like a juror

Others called for the ‘racist’ judge, appointed by a Democratic governor in 1983, to be dismissed and disbarred.

One addressed to ‘Your Honor' read, “I didn't know that under your black robes of justice you wear a white robe of the klan. There is no way a fair trial can be heard under your supervision. Better yet, resign”.’

Aside from his legal decisions, Schroeder also drew accusations of racism when he joked last week about a lunch delay, saying: ‘I hope Asian food isn’t coming…isn’t on one of those boats in Long Beach harbor’.

It was a reference to delays unloading cargo ships in Los Angeles, but the racial overtone drew heavy fire.

The public discovered his musical taste with the Greenwood song when his phone suddenly went off in court. He quickly silenced it and tried to act as if nothing had happened. 

But it gave his critics an opportunity to raise questions about the judge’s leanings – because the song has become one of ex-President Donald Trump’s entrance tunes at his political rallies.

However, the judge was active in politics with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin throughout the 1970s. He was Kenosha County co-ordinator for the 1974 re-election campaign of US Senator Gaylord Nelson.

Schroeder was born in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science in 1967. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the private Jesuit-run college's law school three years later.

He became an assistant district attorney in Kenosha County shortly after being admitted to the bar. And it was through the law that he found love. 

Schroeder is reported to have married court clerk Donna Lane in 1972 and the couple adopted two children, Terence and Mary.

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder's room is seen during Kyle Rittenhouse case

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder's room is seen during Kyle Rittenhouse case

The judge showed his lighter side during the trial. As a livestream began one day, the judge was playing his version of Jeopardy! with the jury. He was heard saying: ‘Alphabet City for 600 “I”. It’s the only major city that straddles two continents, Asia and Europe.’

After a juror correctly answered ‘Istanbul’, Schroeder’s follow drew laughter when he asked the juror: ‘OK, can you sing the song?’

He also showed that he wasn't a know-it-all when he incorrectly cited Geoffrey Chaucer, considered the greatest poet of the Middle Ages, as he said: ‘I do have a rule that honored in the breach’. 

The line is from Hamlet by William Shakespeare. 

However, the bespectacled judge has been acutely aware of the enormity of the trial, with the eyes of the country laser-focused on his courtroom. 

Schroeder was born in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette University, pictured, with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science in 1967

Schroeder was born in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette University, pictured, with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science in 1967

Schroeder earned his Juris Doctor degree from the college’s law school three years later

Schroeder earned his Juris Doctor degree from the college’s law school three years later

In week one of testimony, Schroeder dismissed a juror for making a crude joke about Jacob Blake, the black man whose shooting by police sparked the Kenosha riots. He declared: ‘The public needs to be confident that this is a fair trial.’

And before he issued final instructions to jurors about to deliberate, he said: ‘I’m not gonna mess around with a case of this magnitude.’ 

He told them not to listen to the opinions of others ‘even the President of the United States’.

But controversy came back to bite him the night before the verdict was returned. Schroeder allowed one juror to take home legal instructions, garnering protests from defense lawyer Mark Richards.

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