The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse has not gone the way many in the media expected it to go and, on Friday, weekday afternoon CNN Newsroom host Ana Cabrera and legal analyst Areva Martin had a theory as to why: Judge Bruce Schroeder. In a tiresome fashion, the duo tossed several pejoratives Schroeder's way on Friday including "controversial," "bigoted," and "drama king."
Cabrera went first, describing Schroeder as one who "has commanded a lot of the spotlight with his anger, some controversial rulings, some head-scratching remarks to be kind."
Not only did Cabrera miss that, of course, judges are controversial when weighing in on trial rules and can berate all sides, she also tried to paint Schroeder as a racist by playing a clip from Thursday of him joking, "Let's hope for 1:00. I don't know, the-- hope the Asian food isn't coming, isn't on one of those boats on Long Beach Harbor, but let’s aim for 1:00."
Coming out of the clip, Cabrera asked: "While he appeared to be eluding to supply chain issues there, traffic jam of cargo ships, Asian groups took offense. What do you think about the judge's conduct in this trial?"
An incensed Martin declared that she found him "reprehensible." Her proof? Here she was: "From the beginning, some of his rulings, not allowing the prosecution to call the two men that died victims and the man that was shot victims, but allowing the defense to use the term rioters and looters."
Calling the three men victims would not be giving the defendant the presumption of innocence. CNN could learn something here, because pronouncing guilt on a suspect before the verdict is reached is also poor journalism ethics.
Martin agreed with Cabrera on the supply chain joke and then proceeded to question Schroeder's impartiality:
On the same day he makes this clearly bigoted statement that was offensive and should be offensive to Asian-Americans, he, you know, also applauded one of the defense witnesses, that use of force witness, called him out as a veteran, you know, applauded him before the jurors, giving the impression somehow that this witness is demanding of more deference than some of the other witnesses.
That is not what happened. Schroeder merely asked, on Veterans Day, if anyone in the courtroom was a veteran and the witness was the only one that indicated he was.
Martin concluded by using this bit of false information to give further credence to her personal views: "I just think he has inserted himself into this trial in a way that is not appropriate for a judge and he’s really become a drama king that has, you know, forced a lot of attention onto him when it should be on the facts and evidence of this case."
The original narrative of this case has crumbled to the point where CNN has been left to wonder if the judge is a racist.
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Here is a transcript for the November 12 show:
CNN Newsroom with Ana Cabrera
November 12, 2021
1:15 PM ETANA CABRERA: Real quick Areva, the judge in this case has commanded a lot of the spotlight with his anger, some controversial rulings, some head-scratching remarks to be kind. Here's what he said leading into yesterday's lunch break.
BRUCE SCHROEDER: Let's hope for 1:00. I don't know, the -- hope the Asian food isn't coming -- isn't on one of those boats on Long Beach Harbor, but let’s aim for 1:00.
CABRERA: While he appeared to be eluding to supply chain issues there, traffic jam of cargo ships, Asian groups took offense. What do you think about the judge's conduct in this trial?
AREVA MARTIN: I think it's been reprehensible from the beginning. Some of his rulings, not allowing the prosecution to call the two men that died victims and the man that was shot victims, but allowing the defense to use the term rioters and looters, and on the same day that he makes this clearly bigoted statement that was offensive and should be offensive to Asian-Americans, he, you know, also applauded one of the defense witnesses, that use of force witness, called him out as a veteran, you know, applauded him before the jurors, giving the impression somehow that this witness is demanding of more deference than some of the other witnesses. So I just think he has inserted himself into this trial in a way that is not appropriate for a judge and he’s really become a drama king that has, you know, forced a lot of attention onto him when it should be on the facts and evidence of this case.
