Kyle Rittenhouse...

[tabibito]

The judge has made it clear that he'll let the trial play out, and then rule on the merits of the motions for mistrial.

Personally, I think he's hoping against hope that the jury will do the right thing and find the defendant not guilty of murder by reason of self-defense.

Far better for Rittenhouse if it does go that way - but I'd be inclined to offer him a place in the witness protection programme into the bargain.
Mistrial would brand him with the "got off on a technicality" tag.

[seanD]

The judge has made it clear that he'll let the trial play out, and then rule on the merits of the motions for mistrial.

Personally, I think he's hoping against hope that the jury will do the right thing and find the defendant not guilty of murder by reason of self-defense.

Yeah, I highly doubt that if the jury comes back with a guilty verdict on most or all counts, the judge will declare a mistrial. He would have to have gonads of steel.

[Cow Poke]

Far better for Rittenhouse if it does go that way - but I'd be inclined to offer him a place in the witness protection programme into the bargain.
Mistrial would brand him with the "got off on a technicality" tag.

When the socialist anti-justice worriers get involved, there really can be no justice.

[tabibito]

Yeah, I highly doubt that if the jury comes back with a guilty verdict on most or all counts, the judge will declare a mistrial. He would have to have gonads of steel.

If anyone has what it takes to do it, it seems that this judge is the one.

[Cow Poke]

If anyone has what it takes to do it, it seems that this judge is the one.

He seems to vacillate quite a bit. He seems strong, then he sits there contemplating, even kinda bobbing his head back and forth like he's bouncing an idea back and forth....

I think he WANTS to be courageous, but that means he might also be the (alleged) reason that the city burns.

[seanD]

If anyone has what it takes to do it, it seems that this judge is the one.

He was literally yelling at the prosecution and dressing them down for their court misdeeds, yet let them continue anyway. I highly doubt it. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Cow Poke]

He was literally yelling at the prosecution and dressing them down for their court misdeeds, yet let them continue anyway. I highly doubt it. Maybe I'm wrong.

Yeah, I thought the same thing --- he seems to be all bark and little bite.

[seanD]

Yeah, I thought the same thing --- he seems to be all bark and little bite.

Can't really blame him. His life, the life of his family, and cities burning down can do things to a man.

[Cow Poke]

Can't really blame him. His life, the life of his family, and cities burning down can do things to a man.

We are going to HAVE to come to a place in this country where it becomes a federal crime to riot to affect a court proceeding.

Isn't that what "the insurrection" was all about? Interfering with official proceedings (since nobody got charged with insurrection).

[mossrose]

He seems to vacillate quite a bit. He seems strong, then he sits there contemplating, even kinda bobbing his head back and forth like he's bouncing an idea back and forth....

I think he WANTS to be courageous, but that means he might also be the (alleged) reason that the city burns.

If those in charge of the city a year ago when the riots occurred had been in their right minds, the rioters would have been stopped and none of this would have happened. If the city burns after the verdict, it is no one's fault but their own. I have not much sympathy for any of the cities that allowed themselves to be victims of "social justice".

[tabibito]

He seems to vacillate quite a bit. He seems strong, then he sits there contemplating, even kinda bobbing his head back and forth like he's bouncing an idea back and forth....

I think he WANTS to be courageous, but that means he might also be the (alleged) reason that the city burns.

No-one would do anything different in the circumstances. If anyone is in a position to empathise with Pilate...
What I've seen (admittedly nothing like as much as people in America have seen) - I don't expect him to wash his hands when it comes to the crunch. Nor do I think that the decision will play any significant part in whether the city burns - that it will is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

[Cow Poke]

If those in charge of the city a year ago when the riots occurred had been in their right minds, the rioters would have been stopped and none of this would have happened. If the city burns after the verdict, it is no one's fault but their own. I have not much sympathy for any of the cities that allowed themselves to be victims of "social justice".

Yup, it all comes back to the "defund the police" nonsense and the "mostly peaceful riots" from those on the left.

[Sparko]

I think the judge is trying to be fair to both sides. Judges will dress down an attorney when they do something wrong, but then carry on as usual after it is dealt with.

I think the ruling on whether to call a mistrial will depend on if the jury uses that video to make their decision or not. If they use the video and decide that Rittenhouse somehow provoked the entire sequence of events and finds him guilty of everything, then I think it would mean a mistrial. If they somehow find him NOT guilty in regards to Rosenbaum but guilty on any of the charges relating to the other people, I think the judge would let the verdict stand and no mistrial.

[seanD]

We are going to HAVE to come to a place in this country where it becomes a federal crime to riot to affect a court proceeding.

Isn't that what "the insurrection" was all about? Interfering with official proceedings (since nobody got charged with insurrection).

It's a catch-22. We don't want riots and what law enforcement to stop it. OTOH, we don't want opportunist authoritarians to use riots as leverage for more dictatorial control over the populace. Let's say Rittenhouse is found not guilty of any one or all charges. Riots ensue. Do we really want Biden to declare some executive order in the name of gaining control? In fact, you could say riots will benefit the Dems and the power they hold if that's the case.

[Cow Poke]

It's a catch-22. We don't want riots and what law enforcement to stop it. OTOH, we don't want opportunist authoritarians to use riots as leverage for more dictatorial control over the populace. Let's say Rittenhouse is found not guilty of any one or all charges. Riots ensue. Do we really want Biden to declare some executive order in the name of gaining control? In fact, you could say riots will benefit the Dems and the power they hold if that's the case.

At this point, when we see Biden's people weaponizing the Patriot Act and designating parents "domestic terrorists", I don't want Biden doing ANYTHING.

But I get your point.