'NO-NONSENSE'
Who is Kyle Rittenhouse trial judge Bruce Schroeder?
KYLE Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all charges by the jury after two weeks of standing trial for killing two people at the Kenosha protests over police brutality last year.
The judge presiding over the 18-year-old's case is Bruce Schroeder who has been on the bench since 1983.
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Who is Judge Bruce Schroeder?
Schroeder, 75, Kenosha County Circuit Court judge in Wisconsin and is overseeing the Rittenhouse case.
He is a 1970 graduate of Marquette University and first joined the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office in 1971 as an assistant district attorney.
Prior to returning to the Kenosha County Circuit Court in 1983, Schroeder worked in private practice.
Throughout the course of his career, he earned the reputation of a "no-nonsense judge," and is known as the longest-serving circuit court judge in the state, who often gives out tough sentences.
In October 2021, he made national headlines after he told attorneys in the Rittenhouse case that they could not refer to the men he is accused of shooting, as victims.
What charges is Kyle Rittenhouse facing?
Rittenhouse is facing six criminal charges and is accused of murdering Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber as well as injuring Gaige Grosskreutz.
MORE FROM THE KYLE RITTENHOUSE CASE
Those charges include:
- First-degree reckless homicide: A felony punishable by up to 60 years in prison
- First-degree reckless endangering safety: A felony punishable by 12 1/2 years in prison
- First-degree intentional homicide: Carries a mandatory life sentence
- Attempted first-degree intentional homicide: Carries a maximum sentence of 60 years
- First-degree recklessly endangering safety: A felony punishable by 12 1/2 years in prison
- Possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18: A misdemeanor punishable by up to nine months in prison
Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, was also charged with failure to comply with an emergency order from state or local government, but Schroeder later dismissed the charge during the second week of the trial.
The teenager entered a plea of not guilty on all charges and is claiming self-defense.
On November 10, Rittenhouse appeared in court and sobbed during his defense testimony, forcing the proceedings to be halted.
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Did Bruce Schroeder ban MSNBC from court proceedings?
Schroeder banned MSNBC from the courtroom on November 18, after a freelancer for the news outlet was pulled over for a traffic violation.
The freelancer, who Schroeder said identified himself as James J. Morrison, was pulled over for running a traffic light and he told police he was following the bus of jurors at the request of his supervisor.
Contacting and taking photos of the jurors is prohibited, but Kenosha police said no photos were taken.
Morrison said he hadn't intended to contact the jurors or take photos, but Schroeder told MSNBC they would not be permitted inside the courtroom for the duration of the trial.
Schroeder said, "I have instructed that no one from MSNBC News will be permitted in this building for the duration of this trial.
“This is a very serious matter, and I don’t know what the ultimate truth of it is, but absolutely it would go without much thinking that someone who is following a jury bus, that is an extremely serious matter and will be referred to the proper authorities for further action.”
A spokesperson for NBC News issued a statement saying they are cooperating with authorities.
“While the traffic violation took place near the jury van, the freelancer never contacted or intended to contact the jurors during deliberations, and never photographed or intended to photograph them,” NBC News said in a statement.
"We regret the incident and will fully cooperate with the authorities on any investigation," the statement read.
Is Bruce Schroeder married?
Despite being a high-profile judge in the state of Wisconsin, Schroeder has been able to keep his personal life private throughout his career.
At this time, it remains unclear if the judge is married or if he has any children.
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