Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Judge Unintentionally Manipulates Juror Perception

The Kyle Rittenhouse trial is one of the on-going high profile cases at the moment. Rittenhouse is undergoing trial for allegedly shooting two men dead and injuring another during the Kenosha, Wisconsin protests last year.

The case was recently thrown into disarray as the defense requested mistrial following impertinent questioning from the opposition. According to TMZ report another problem stands in the way of the trial, and it stems from the judge himself. Judge Bruce Schroeder is at the helm of the trial.

Judge Schroeder took to recognizing Veterans Day before proceeding with the trial. He asked if any veterans were present on Thursday during the trial, and only one man raised his hand. John Black, part of Rittenhouse’s defense team was the only veteran present in the courtroom, and the judge order everyone applaud for him.

John Black definitely deserved the praise he received in the courtroom, but from the jurors’ eye, everyone was applauding for the defense’s use-of-force expert. That complicates the trial as public perception for a member of the defense has been manipulated.

Black’s applause comes after the judge silencing the opposition’s advances towards implying that Rittenhouse’s silence implies guilt. While no such legal implication should be drawn as it is within the defendant’s rights to remain silent, there seems to be emerging a pattern of bias, whether intentional or not.

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