logo

Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz release Darrell Brooks on bail before his deadly Waukesha Christmas Parade attack?

By Tom Kertscher
NO

Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Cedric Cornwall on Nov. 5, 2021 approved Darrell Brooks’ release from jail on $1,000 bail.

The Milwaukee man was in custody, charged with felony recklessly endangering safety in a domestic violence case.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm later said the $1,000 bail his office recommended was “inappropriately low.”

On Nov. 21, 2021, Brooks drove a Ford Escape through the Christmas Parade in Waukesha. The attack left six people dead and injured more than 60. Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow sentenced Brooks to life in prison. Dorow ran for the Wisconsin Supreme Court seat but lost in the primary.

Tuesday's high court race pits Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz against former Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly.

Two referendum questions asking voters whether it should be harder to get out of jail on bail are on the April 4, 2023 election ballot.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
FACT BRIEF BY
facebook
twitter
email
email