Author: Kenosha News
Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder has announced he will retire next month.Schroeder is the longest serving circuit court judge in Wisconsin.Having been first appointed in 1983 by then-Gov.Tony Earl, he has won elections ever since.He will serve until Nov.27, according to his office.Judge Bruce Schroeder speaks druing the Kyle Rittenhouse trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Nov.18, 2021. The state’s longest serving circuit court judge, he has announced plans to retire in November.Colleagues offered warm sentiments on Friday when reached for comment after Schroeder’s announcement.Chief Judge Jason Rossell said Schroeder has been a “blessing to Kenosha County for his entire career.”“I have always been impressed with his scholarship, his thoughtfulness and his care for citizens of Kenosha,” Rossell said.“As an attorney, I always knew that Judge Schroeder was prepared and was fully versed in the law.You had to be equally prepared and ready to answer good questions about how the law applied.People are also reading…“When I became a judge, Judge Schroeder was one of my go-to judges, who I would go to with complex questions or problems.He never failed to provide good advice and point me right to the statute or the law.Judge Schroeder has spent his entire career serving Kenosha County and he will be missed by all of us,” he said.Judge Chad Kerkman expressed similar sentiments.“Judge Schroeder has been an excellent mentor and friend to me,” Kerkman said. “I’ve enjoyed his wit, humor and enthusiasm for trivia both as an attorney appearing in front of him and as a colleague.I will miss seeing him at the courthouse every day, but I am very happy for him and his family in his well-deserved retirement.”Judge Anthony Milisauskas said Schroeder has a “very sharp and smart legal mind.”“He was dedicated, diligent and efficient when he presided over a legal case in his courtroom,” Milisauskas said.“He also was a mentor and reliable source of information for many young judges.He always willing to hear cases for other judges when an emergency arose.He will be missed.”Judge Jodi Meier said she practiced law before Schroeder for many years and has “always had a deep appreciation” of his mind, wisdom, insight and humor.Judge Bruce Schroeder speaks to attorneys during the homicide trial of Zachariah Anderson at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.SEAN KRAJACIC, KENOSHA NEWS“For the last seven years, it has been a tremendous honor to be his colleague on the judiciary where, through his mentoring, Judge Schroeder has taught on me how to balance fairness and accountability as well as how to mandate efficiency for litigants and victims to have their voices heard,” Meier said.“By November’s end there will be a colossal void of scholar, personality and work ethic at the courthouse. In the waning moments of his remarkable legal career it is appropriate to reflect, smile and nod in great respect regarding the gift of Judge Bruce Schroeder to this community.”Judge Angelina Gabriele congratulated Schroeder on his retirement.“I congratulate Judge Schroeder on his career as a dedicated and longest serving judge in Wisconsin.The Kenosha courthouse will not be the same without him.I hope he enjoys his well-deserved retirement with his family and friends,” Gabriele said.Judge Gerad Dougvillo said he is sad to see Schroeder leave but is thankful for his time serving Kenosha County.“Personally, I am also saddened that someone who has been a mentor and friend will no longer be holding court here in Kenosha,” Dougvillo said, adding he has known Schroeder since he was 15.“As a young man taking one of his daughters to the homecoming dance, I found it to be a very surreal, and intimidating experience, to be warned by this larger-than-life figure to be sure to have his daughter home before 10 p.m.I think he drove us so thankfully I wasn’t too worried about being late!” Dougvillo said.“His presence and demeanor made a lasting impression on me. We remained in touch over the years and our relationship has now turned to one of colleagues and friends.”Dougvillo said being sworn into the bench by Schroeder is “undoubtedly one of the best days of my legal career.”County Clerk Rebecca Matoska-Mentink said with Schroeder’s departure the court is losing “decades of facts and tales of the Kenosha court’s history” and she was fortunate to have “heard many of his stories and lectures he was prone to share.”“This is a well-deserved retirement,” Matoska-Mentink said.“I will miss his common sense approach to courtroom management.He said many times that his job was to administer the law, and the administration and safety was left to the clerk and the sheriff.He always treated me and the entire court staff with respect.”Donna and Bruce Schroeder in 1972SUBMITTED PHOTOMatoska-Mentink said there will be an election to fill his seat.County Executive Samantha Kerkman said that during her time as a state legislator Schroeder “was always someone I respected and counted on” to offer insightful opinions of how the laws enacted in Madison affected the courts locally.“As Wisconsin’s longest-serving judge, he brings a wealth of knowledge that will be missed when he leaves the bench,” Kerkman said.“I hope he enjoys his next chapter in life with his wife and family, rooting for his beloved Milwaukee Brewers.”Schroeder, who graduated from Marquette Law School in 1970, has presided over some of the highest profile and impactful trials in Kenosha County and Wisconsin history.Some of his more recent trials include the first homicide trial of Mark Jensen, who was first convicted of poisoning and killing his wife in Pleasant Prairie in 2008 and convicted again after a 2023 retrial; the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of all counts in 2021 and pleaded self-defense in deadly Kenosha 2020 shootings that sparked headlines across the globe; and the lengthy trial of Zachariah Anderson, who was convicted of killing a man in his Kenosha apartment and disposing of his body in 2023.Before becoming a judge, Schroeder served as an assistant district attorney, before being appointed and later elected district attorney.Get local news delivered to your inbox!Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
