State Watch

Rittenhouse judge says he hasn’t read defense motion to dismiss case

by Monique Beals 11/17/21 02:32 PM ET

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder, who is presiding over the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, said that he had not read the motion to dismiss the case.

“I haven’t even had a chance to read the motion to dismiss. I just got it yesterday,” Schroeder said Wednesday.

Referencing “some of the other misinformation on the case,” Schroeder mentioned a local newspaper report that questioned why he had not ruled on the motion.

“I really think before I rule on a motion, I should let the state respond. So why anyone would think it is odd for the judge to sit on a motion to dismiss I have no idea,” he added.

He also said that he believed “that motions to dismiss should be kept under advisement unless they’re crystal clear and they have had a chance for both parties to respond.” He noted that such an opportunity had not occurred “in the heat of the discussion on the day the original oral motion was made.”

“It’s just a shame irresponsible statements are being made,” Schroeder also said.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for fatally shooting two people and injuring another during protests in Kenosha, Wis., last summer. He faces charges including first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and two counts of reckless endangerment, though he has claimed that he acted in self-defense.