Darrell Brooks, the man who allegedly killed six people and injured dozens more in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack, was placed in a separate room Monday as the court attempted to begin the jury selection process for his trial.
Brooks is accused of driving an SUV through a procession down Main Street in Waukesha last November. He asked to represent himself last week. During the proceedings, Brooks complained about paperwork, claimed he did not recognize his own name and claimed to be a “sovereign citizen” and subsequently not subject to the court’s jurisdiction, according to FOX 6 Milwaukee. These and other outbursts prompted Judge Jennifer R. Dorow to ask for him to be removed from the courtroom multiple times.
After another outburst, Dorow warned that she would hold Brooks in contempt of court, and eventually Waukesha District Attorney Sue Opper suggested a deputy place Brooks in a gag.
“Obviously, this guy clearly has issues, and now you’re throwing sovereign citizen issues on top of it. There’s really no way that we’re going to see a typical jury trial,” Neama Rahmani, a Los Angeles-based former federal prosecutor following the case told Fox News in an interview.
Rahmani added that Brooks’ actions could also provide him with ammunition for a future appeal. “It’s really going to be hard to try him in absentia because he’s representing himself,” he said. “It creates an appellate issue, an unnecessary appellate issue. He has a right to be present, but obviously he doesn’t have a right to act the way that he is.”
Dorow last week found that Brooks was fit to stand trial and allowed him to waive his right to have an attorney and represent himself, but after Monday, Brooks could, at least temporarily, be deemed incompetent. A similar instance occurred in the case against Idaho “cult mom” Lori Vallow whose trial was delayed by multiple months as she went through treatment for mental health.
“Ultimately, her competency was restored. That’s something that may be in issue here,” Rahmani said.
FOX 6 reported that, after a lunch break Monday, Brooks was removed from the courtroom two further times by Dorow, who was becoming increasingly frustrated with him.
“What a s— show – Judge Dorow may have to appoint him an attorney over his objection,” Rahmani said. “The only real issue Brooks raised is asking for more time to review the discovery he received on Friday. The court may have to grant that request.”
In addition, Brooks also outlined an 18-step “Demand for Verified Statement of Particulars,” a handwritten note asking prosecutors to provide a number of details including “the identity of the alleged defendant” and proof of his citizenship.
Brooks demanded a response within three days and claimed the overwhelming charges against him should be “dismissed with prejudice” if his terms were not met.
Jury selection began around 2 p.m. CT and could continue for most of the week. Twelve jurors and four alternates must be selected out of a pool of more than 300. By the end of the day Monday, seven of the first 41 potential jurors had been let go. Jury selection continues at 1 p.m. CT Tuesday.
Brooks faces six counts of first-degree intentional homicide and 71 other counts. Each of the six top charges against Brooks carries a sentence of life in prison, and he faces dozens of additional charges in connection with the attack.
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