Politics

Judge Rules Men Shot By Kyle Rittenhouse Can Be Called Rioters But Not Victims During Trial

Report

Activists are gearing up to protest on Monday when jury selection begins in the trial of 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who is charged with killing two people during the Jacob Blake riots last summer.

Kenosha Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder made a number of controversial rulings ahead of jury selection, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Schroeder, 75, infuriated social justice activists on Oct. 25 when he ruled that prosecutors could not refer to the people whom Rittenhouse had shot as “victims,” the Chicago Tribune reported.

However, the judge said the defense attorneys could refer to the people who had been shot by their client as “rioters, looters and arsonists” as long as they presented evidence that supported those claims.

“He can demonize them if he wants, if he thinks it will win points with the jury,” Schroeder said.

Prosecutors who have gone before this judge before said that Schroeder has a long-standing rule that bars the use of the word “victim” in self-defense cases when there is any dispute over who was responsible for the incident, the Chicago Tribune reported.

“This is a man who has given the defense a chance to present their case as long as I’ve been in his courtroom,” Kenosha defense attorney Michael Cicchini said. “He’s very consistent in that way, and that’s a good thing for all defendants regardless of their skin color.”

Rittenhouse is facing seven felony charges including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, reckless endangerment, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The most serious of the charges carries as sentence of life in prison if the 18 year old is convicted.

Defense attorneys sought to have the gun charge dismissed ahead of jury selection but Schroeder denied the motion.