Rittenhouse Judge Allows Him To Draw Names Out Of A Hat

[Initech]

The jury began deliberating Tuesday at the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse after listening to dueling portrayals of him as a "wannabe soldier" who went looking for the trouble, or a concerned citizen who came under attack while trying to protect property.

The case went to the anonymous, 12-member jury after Rittenhouse himself, in an unusual move, was allowed by Judge Bruce Schroeder to draw the numbered slips of paper from a raffle drum that determined which of the 18 people who sat in judgment during the trial would decide his fate and which ones would be dismissed as alternates.

That task is usually performed by a court clerk, not the defendant.

Rittenhouse, 18, faces life in prison if convicted as charged for using an AR-style semi-automatic rifle to kill two men and wound a third during a night of protests against racial injustice in Kenosha in the summer of 2020. The former police youth cadet is white, as were those he shot.
https://www.startribune.com/jury-begins-deliberating-at-kyle-rittenhouse-murder-trial/600117202/

Are you fucking kidding me? He drew the names out of a hat??? That's some bullshit!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Apparently this is something Schroeder does regularly.

It's either the defendant or a member of the court. Unusual, but IMO not something that's going to change much.

[Initech]

5. I'd love to see John Oliver do a take down of this guy.

[Tomconroy]

2. Why is it bullshit? What difference does it make?

[Initech]

4. He might as well play Pin The Tail On The Donkey while we're at it.

I swear the judge is trying to throw this trial.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

8. It reminds me of when pilots used to let little kids come in the cockpit

To help "fly the plane."

[dpibel]

9. It's an official court function

This isn't, actually, bingo night.

If nothing else, it sends to the jury the message, "This young man is trustworthy enough to do this task on behalf of the court."

Seriously: Do you think the defense would stand by quietly if the judge brought in Gaige Grosskreutz to do the jury lottery?

[beaglelover]

19. Exactly. Don't get why the panties in a bunch over this.

[meadowlander]

25. For the same reason candidates for election don't count the votes.

There's no reason why they should and every reason to maintain the appearance of a system that can't be corrupted.

[Tomconroy]

26. A defendant has a right to a trial by his peers. To me this

was sort of an interesting riff on that. Doesn't really matter a damn in real terms.

[meadowlander]

27. But not peers that he selects himself.

[Tomconroy]

28. It's a silly issue.

[Ohioboy]

3. I guess technically it shouldn't matter who picks, but...

You would think that job should go to someone neutral in the case.

[unblock]

6. Because court proceedings should resemble games shows as much as possible

In reality, it doesn't change anything, so, whatever.

But image-wise, this just adds to the clown show perception.

[leftstreet]

10. It's as if Court TV asked him to do it this way

so controversial for the viewers, and so delicious for the advertisers

[Lovie777]

7. This judge I do not trust at all . ....

whose to say he and defense counsel secured a list of names preferrably pro-white supremacist for the choices.

UGH

[dhol82]

11. Ditto.

[Rebl2]

17. Exactly

[Solly Mack]

12. Does have a bit of a dystopian game show vibe to it. To allow the defendant to do it.

I agree with others that it won't change anything but it still feels more game show than courtroom.

Unnecessary theatrics coming from the bench.

With each number drawn you can almost hear the dramatic sound effect playing. (Dun, Dun, Duuun)

[Amishman]

13. doesn't bother me at all

it's random either way, and this eliminates one possible reason for conspiracy theories and other stupidity

[Kid Berwyn]

14. It's like a game show.

The show trial.

[C_U_L8R]

15. The judge is apparently a fanboy of a murderer.

There is no dispute that this racist punk killed people with his assault weapon and clearly no dispute that this judge has disgraced himself at the altar of rightwing idiocy and racism.

[Rebl2]

16. Judge

needs to be removed from the bench!

[Girard442]

18. Really weird thought: ask yourself this:

Would you be OK if David Blaine or Harry Houdini did the drawing? I mean, odds are heavily against Rittenhouse being an accomplished amateur magician, but why take the chance?

[miyazaki]

29. Rolf. I thought I was the only one who thinks of such oddities

But anyway, tomorrow may be his greatest trick.

[iscooterliberally]

20. I guess the judge is somehow playing to his base on this one?

I think he wants to cover his own ass with his voters just in case there is a guilty verdict.

[Jedi Guy]

21. The outrage over every little thing in this trial has long since become silly.

This is the moment where it well and truly jumped the shark, though.

[SCantiGOP]

23. I agree

Just because we have a once in a lifetime usurper who tried, and is still trying, to overthrow the system does not mean that every action is a conspiracy against Progressives.
SC used to allow death row inmates to choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. There was actually a letter to the editor complaining that we shouldn't "put the murderer in charge" of their fate during their last hours of life. That kind of sounds like the outrage about this little jackass getting to do the blind draw on his jurors.

[vanlassie]

22. Then he gave him a lollipop.

[swimboy]

24. Unacceptable

When does the judge reveal he has a hidden immunity idol he’s willing to play for Kyle?