Judge starts Rittenhouse trial with trivia and lectures

[Zorro]

Source: Yahoo News

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The judge presiding over Kyle Rittenhouse's homicide trial opened jury selection Monday with a round of “Jeopardy!”-like trivia, assured potential jurors he doesn't have COVID-19 and reached back to the fall of the Roman Empire to emphasize the gravity of their duty.

Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder drew laughs in the courtroom — and some cringes on social media — as he peppered potential jurors with trivia questions, and offered commentary on some. When the answer to one was the movie “Psycho,” the 75-year-old Schroeder quipped: “Heard of it.”

One potential juror told Schroeder he had nasal surgery scheduled in 10 days. The judge asked him, “What would you rather do, be here with me or have your nose operated on?” The man responded: “I’ll be honest with you, I’m not looking forward to it.” The judge laughed and said he would take it under consideration.

The tenor of Monday's hearing was no surprise to one attorney who has appeared before Schroeder.

Michael Cicchini, a Kenosha-based defense attorney, said the beginning of jury selection can be "a logistical nightmare.” Attorneys are handed seating charts and other paperwork as jurors are led in, and they need time to get organized. Schroeder traditionally spends that time playing trivia with the jury pool until the attorneys are ready, he said.

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/judge-starts-rittenhouse-trial-trivia-171749242.html

[msongs]

1. the guy thinks he's doing the OJ trial media-wise. the bullet recipients may get no justice here nt

[Wingus Dingus]

2. Fun and lighthearted, just the way a homicide trial should be.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

3. Trial hasn't started. Trials start on delivery of opening statements. All else is pre-trial.

So wouldn’t make a big deal of the way a judge does jury selection when there’s been no complaints by lawyers for decades.

[Traildogbob]

4. Is this Judge

Rickies daddy? Wonder if he will allow the victim without an arm come testify. Oh, sorry, not a victim, the one armed rioter.

[Orrex]

6. One-armed alleged assailant, that is.

Poor Kyle. What else could he do but illegally transport a firearm across state lines with the intent to murder someone?

[Igel]

7. I think the OP makes it pretty clear.

He's giving cover to the lawyers involved to get their act together.

Better to pressure the prosecutor and defense and trigger a verdict of mistrial if it goes against the defendant. I guess.

The rest is Mulderism.

And just for good measure,

I kdy tady piva neni, jenom borovicka. Ahoj!

[BamaRefugee]

5. Once trial starts, this judge likes to play "CLUE" and Hangman's Noose with jury on lunch break.

[jcmaine72]

8. So which muppet is this judge trying to be?

Statler or Waldorf?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. This racist judge is an idiot

[SunSeeker]

10. He's the same douchebag who won't let prosecutors call Rittenhouse's victims "victims."

This judge should retire....yesterday.

[rpannier]

11. According to a lot of articles written by legal experts, that is not as uncommon as you might think

Many judges do not allow them to be referred to as victims because there hasn't been a verdict against the defendant and it could prejudice a jury
What many have found odd is his allowing the defense to use rioter and looter, though he has said the defense has to show this to be true

[olegramps]

12. He probably would not allow the use of "insurrectionist" for Trump's mob.

[SunSeeker]

14. Bad judges are not uncommon. nt

[Evolve Dammit]

13. Great. Another Judge Louie Gohmert presiding. Starved for attention your Honor?

[LiberatedUSA]

15. He must of took note from the Anna Nicole Smith estate clown show.