User:Mfko/Trial of Darrell Brooks

State of Wisconsin v. Darrell E. Brooks is an American criminal case in the ____ Court of Wisconsin in which Darrell Brooks was tried and convicted of _____ in relation to the Waukesha Christmas parade attack. The trial attracted extensive media attention and was broadcast live on Court TV and other media outlets.

Darrell Brooks elected to proceed pro se despite being repeatedly cautioned by Dorow, stating that he was not intimidated by the collective experience of the prosecution team.

Brooks was repeatedly removed from the courtroom throughout the proceedings due to a failure to comply with decorum. Dorow, citing Illinois v. Allen, elected to have Brooks placed in an adjacent courtroom but allowed Brooks to communicate via videoconferencing, enabling Dorow to easily mute Brooks when he became disruptive.

Brooks displayed a number of bizarre behaviors throughout the trial, including asking witnesses if the State of Wisconsin was in the room, refusing to consent to being identified by his name, tucking an "Objection" sign provided by the court into his waistband during his time in the other courtroom, building a box fort out of his legal documents during jury instructions, and constantly objecting to the prosecution's questions (and immediately demanding to know the grounds if his questions were objected to). Dorow repeatedly invoked Wis. Stat. § 906.11 (a)(b)(c) during Brooks's questioning as many of his questions were either irrelevant or did little to advance the case.

In one instance covered by multiple media sources, Brooks accused Dorow of treason during a trial recess on October 13, 2022. Brooks went on a 50-minute tirade, expressing grievances about being restricted from questioning witnesses, unanswered queries to the judge, and his request to move the trial. He also complained about news coverage, political ads, and the inability to find an impartial jury. Additionally, he claimed inadequate preparation time and restricted access to resources while in jail, which he believed put him at a disadvantage. Brooks alleged that his rights were being violated and accused Dorow of failing to uphold her oath of office.

District Attorney Sue Opper dismissed Brooks's complaints as reminiscent of claims made by "sovereign citizens," referring to them as incomprehensible legal nonsense. Opper expressed shock at Brooks casually accusing the court of treason. In response, Dorow stated that she had previously addressed all of the issues raised by Brooks, including her relationship with a victim's father, and suggested that he could appeal her rulings if he disagreed with them.

Brooks was found guilty of all charges and was sentenced on ____. The galley applauded when Dorow handed down the first of the sentences.

Trial
Chief Judge Jennifer Dorow presided over the case.