Judge Schroeder sits very close to the defendant during the viewing of a video-this image has become incredibly controversial and could be seen as highly prejudicial. (Photo by Mark Hertzberg/via Getty Images)
Good morning, everyone. Like many of you, I have spent the last few days on Rittenhouse Jury watch, while following the courtroom coverage of the Ahmaud Arbery case. I’m on edge, and to say this has been an intense reminder of the ongoing and disproportionate race issues we have in America, is an understatement.
While the prosecution in the Arbery case effectively poked several critical holes in the defendant’s self-defense argument through a stellar cross-examination yesterday, I am not as confident about the impending verdict in Rittenhouse. I am also greatly concerned about the safety of the residents of Kenosha, regardless of Kyle Rittenhouse’s verdict. The courtroom battles in these two prominent cases feel like an extension of the problematic issues we are still negotiating in Congress, and I am hopeful that legal justice is swifter than the bureaucratic nightmare that is reminiscent of the sequel to “Groundhog Day” that no one wanted: “Congressional Edition.”
How are you feeling about these two cases? Have you been watching any portion of these two trials? If so, what are your thoughts about the ultimate outcomes? Are you still holding out hope for guilty verdicts, or do you fear that race will play a destructive role…again? Let me know what you think in the comments below as we wait for the Rittenhouse jury to return a verdict.
In the event that you are not able to watch or keep track of these cases, I will be following the Rittenhouse deliberations live on Twitter again today, and I will post any news as it happens to keep you informed. The Arbery case will begin again on Monday morning with closing arguments and I will be covering that, as well.
Be sure to leave your comment below, I am always interested to hear from you. I would also encourage you to read my article, Rittenhouse Jury Watch, that quickly recaps the facts of the case and details the several charges the jury is currently considering.
Your paid subscriptions to SHERO allow me to continue publishing on critical issues and provide information to the public, so please consider purchasing one today. If you would like to make a one-time tribute via PayPal, you can click this link now for that option. As always, thank you for taking the time to read and support my work here at SHERO and for helping to provide independent journalism for everyone.
Paid subscriptions and one-time tributes embedded in each article allow me to keep publishing critical and informative work that is sometimes made available to the public — thank you. If you like this piece and want to support independent journalism further, you can forward this article to others, get a paid subscription or gift subscription, or donate once, as much as you like today.
I can attest that Kenosha area is Ron Johnson territory and the folks you should be fearful for are the small percentage of wisconsonites that ARE NOT gun toting, hate spewing, racists. As beautiful as the geography is, the people are not so much. There are many good people here; but there are more idiots like rittenhouse than you could ever believe. Wisconsin is mostly 25 years behind the rest of the nation. The town I live in is pervasively racist. Xenphobes are my neighbors. If it weren't for the nature, I wouldn't live here. Nothing that happens with rittenhouse trial will surprise me.
I've been favorably impressed with Judge Walmsley. He's run a good trial, notwithstanding three separate defendants and one defense attorney who's apparently time-travelled here from the fifties (I'm looking at you, Gough!) Apropos to nothing, I can't help thinking that absent that Satilla Shores facebook group, Arbery might still be alive.
Judge Schroeder, on the other hand...hoo boy! Besides the obvious pro-defendant bias shown, there's been some not-so-subtle signs he's lost some marbles in his dotage. One morning he dismissed a juror for telling a deputy a Jacob Blake joke (good), but that very afternoon he spotted the empty chair in the alternate jury seating and stopped the prosecutor mid-question by saying "Hold on! We're missing someone!" Who forgets they dismissed a juror four hours earlier?
A few days later he sent the jury out for some business outside their presence. After that business concluded he looked at the prosecutor and said "Okay, go..." When they all just looked at him he repeated "Go! Go!" At this point he was told he hadn't recalled the jury yet.
Someone close to him should perhaps suggest retirement isn't dishonorable.
I can attest that Kenosha area is Ron Johnson territory and the folks you should be fearful for are the small percentage of wisconsonites that ARE NOT gun toting, hate spewing, racists. As beautiful as the geography is, the people are not so much. There are many good people here; but there are more idiots like rittenhouse than you could ever believe. Wisconsin is mostly 25 years behind the rest of the nation. The town I live in is pervasively racist. Xenphobes are my neighbors. If it weren't for the nature, I wouldn't live here. Nothing that happens with rittenhouse trial will surprise me.
I have not been able to watch much of either trial (I'm a laborer) so I appreciate your live tweeting it so that I can check in from time to time.
The thing I'm wondering about per the Rittenhouse trial is whether or not there can be a call for a mistrial?
What I've seen in clips is an unstable Judge....
This kangaroo judge has done everything he can to ensure the outcome of the Rittenhouse trial.
I've been favorably impressed with Judge Walmsley. He's run a good trial, notwithstanding three separate defendants and one defense attorney who's apparently time-travelled here from the fifties (I'm looking at you, Gough!) Apropos to nothing, I can't help thinking that absent that Satilla Shores facebook group, Arbery might still be alive.
Judge Schroeder, on the other hand...hoo boy! Besides the obvious pro-defendant bias shown, there's been some not-so-subtle signs he's lost some marbles in his dotage. One morning he dismissed a juror for telling a deputy a Jacob Blake joke (good), but that very afternoon he spotted the empty chair in the alternate jury seating and stopped the prosecutor mid-question by saying "Hold on! We're missing someone!" Who forgets they dismissed a juror four hours earlier?
A few days later he sent the jury out for some business outside their presence. After that business concluded he looked at the prosecutor and said "Okay, go..." When they all just looked at him he repeated "Go! Go!" At this point he was told he hadn't recalled the jury yet.
Someone close to him should perhaps suggest retirement isn't dishonorable.