"Optics" of Rittenhouse judge complaining about clerk picking "a Black, the Black, the only Black"

[bigtree]

Rob McDowall FRSA @robmcd85
Ah ok, so Judge Schroeder who is hearing the Rittenhouse case has referred to a juror in another case as "a black, the black, the only black". I kid you not.


Judge Bruce Schroeder made the remark on Wednesday when explaining his decision to allow Mr Rittenhouse to pick the names of the six jurors who would not be joining the final jury of 12.

In a rambling explanation, Judge Schroeder said the last time he allowed a court clerk to pick names was about two decades ago in a trial with a Black defendant.

He said there “a bad optic” after clerk chose “a Black, the Black, the only Black” in the jury pool.

“There were 13 jurors, one of whom was Black. And when the clerk, the government official, drew the name out of the tumbler, it was a Black, the Black, the only Black. There was nothing wrong with it, it was all OK, but what do they talk about – optics, nowadays … That was a bad optic, I thought,” he said.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/kyle-rittenhouse-judge-bruce-schroeder-jury-b1959564.html

Link to tweet

Jon Lion Fine Art @jonlionfineart2 6h
“… A black, the black, the only black”

-Judge Rittenhouse

[Hoyt]

2. I think you completely missed what happened.

[okaawhatever]

5. The clickbait headline makes u believe the exact opposite

of what happened. Two decades ago he presided over a trial w/a black defendant. The jurors were 12 white and 1 black. There were 13 because one person becomes the alternate. When the clerk drew the name to see which juror would become the alternate the clerk pulled the only black juror to serve as the alternate. While the process was normal and fair, he realized the optics might make the defendant question the fairness of the process and decided to allow the defendant to pull the alternates name so optically it would seem much fairer.

Clearly this article is meant to create division and anger. Don’t let it. The judge might be a Grade A douchebag I don’t know, but his decision to allow Rittenhouse to pick the alternate is the same thing he’s done for 20 years, and the rationale was based on fairness.

[consider_this]

15. yo - I think it is his wording that is at issue.

he says ' it was a Black, the Black, the only Black.'
c'mon! - how about say - 'he drew the only black juror' - but 'a black, the black' - jeez!!!

[stopdiggin]

18. again, the judge might be a total douche

and a goofball - but you're pointing to style points or 'optics' (as the judge would have it) rather than anything with real prejudicial or racial impact or intent. (as the click-bait headline is so clearly trying to imply)

[ratchiweenie]

3. This judge is mentally ill.

[JanMichael]

4. He is obviously senile, stupid, and shitty. Another one to go rot in hell.

[a kennedy]

6. AND HE'S THE OLDEST JUDGE ON THE BENCH IN WISCONSIN......he needs to go, AND NOW.

[jimfields33]

11. He's up for re-election in 2026. I doubt he'll be re-elected

[ShazamIam]

7. Judge Schroeder is like the red pill the conspiracy theorists talk about, or, Here America

is justice as we have it.

[RockRaven]

9. Why is he concerned about the optics of fairness vis-a-vis the defendant and not vis-a-vis the

decedents (aka "alleged victims" ), the public, or the state?

[Blue Owl]

10. Fuck that judge

[LiberalFighter]

12. Why was it determined when it was time for the jury to deliberate?

I thought alternate jury members were decided before the trail started.

[Hoyt]

13. 18 jurors were selected and sat through trial. THEN, 6 were eliminated. My guess, to keep em engaged

I actually think that's a good idea. Keep the "alternates" from daydreaming and being behind if they have to step in.

[xmas74]

16. It's to assure that all jurors are paying attention

It's actually a decent idea in theory. If you don't know if you're a juror or an alternate upfront you're more likely to oayy attention to the testimony and evidence.

[UTUSN]

14. He don't see his own optics!1

[uponit7771]

20. +1

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. Want to do some about the Judge in the Rittenhouse trial, file a complaint.

Link to tweet

[TomSlick]

19. The judge is past his sell-by date.

It's time to retire.