The man accused of driving his SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, last November made a spectacle of himself during a court appearance on Tuesday. Forty-year-old Darrell Brooks, a career criminal, verbally sparred with Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow and demanded that he be allowed to defend himself against the 77 charges — including six counts of intentional homicide — against him.
Brooks was given until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning to sign a document waiving his right to an attorney. Court records show that Brooks did indeed sign the waiver, and Dorow is expected to schedule a new hearing as early as today.
At issue yesterday was a motion by Brooks’ attorneys, Jeremy Perri and Anna Kees, to withdraw from the case due to the defendant’s desire to defend himself.
Dorow asked Brooks if it was truly his intention to dismiss his court-appointed attorneys and represent himself in the case. Asked by Dorow if he understood what he was doing, Brooks pulled the “sovereign citizen” card.
“It is me exercising my right to defend myself, to represent myself as a sovereign citizen,” Brooks told the judge.
Dorow explained to Brooks that he was giving up his right to have attorneys with decades of legal experience defending him in the case.
Brooks said that, while he was appreciative of some of the things that Perri and Kees did for him during the case, he also didn’t understand some of what he was being charged with.
“I agree they have worked tirelessly on a lot of the things in this case,” Brooks said, but “I think I will be better served representing myself.”
However, Brooks claimed to be confused as to how the State of Wisconsin could charge him with the crimes.
“This is where the confusion of that comes in,” Brooks said. “I have confusion to how the state can be the plaintiff.”
After Dorow explained that it is the state who brings such charges, Brooks still claimed to be confused on the matter.
“I still go back to the question I asked,” he said. “I don’t understand how they can represent an injured party. How can the state of Wisconsin — the corporate state of Wisconsin — be an injured party?”
Dorow finally stopped indulging Brooks on the matter of how the state could bring charges against him.
“This is a legitimate case,” the judge said. “And I’m not going to make a mockery by you asking that question because this case has been proceeding since November 23 of last year, and it’s going to keep going on whether you understand how the state can be a party or not. Do I make myself clear?”
“No,” Brooks replied. “Because the question is still there.”
After telling Brooks it didn’t matter if he understood or not, the case was still going forward, the defendant ranted about a “rush to judgment.”
“So is that a rush to judgment?” Brooks asked. Dorow assured him that it wasn’t, but the defendant wouldn’t let it go.
“I can’t move past the rush to judgment,” Brooks said again.
Brooks proceeded to speak in verbal circles with the clearly annoyed judge, who continued to ascertain whether Brooks understood what he was asking for.
“Do you wish to represent yourself in this case?” Dorow asked.
“Yes, I do … I would like to represent myself pro per,” he said.
Asked by the judge if he knew what that meant, Brooks answered, “It means — because I’ve already said it on record — to represent myself as a sovereign citizen.”
Brooks repeatedly refused to say that he understood the charges against him, although he several times said that he was “aware” of the charges.
Eventually, Dorow tired of Brooks’ antics and called for a brief recess. The judge returned and said, “We are done here today.”
“You have demonstrated through this hearing that you don’t have a basic understanding of some of the things that are going on,” the judge said. “So I’m going to give you time to consider this request.”
Brooks’ trial was scheduled to begin on October 3, but this new wrinkle may cause a delay until the defendant’s attorney situation is settled.
Brooks’ mother faxed a letter to Dorow saying that she was “deeply concerned” with Tuesday’s hearing. In a letter to his mother, Brooks had detailed allegations against Waukesha County jailers who Brooks claims made racial slurs against him, verbally abused him, and even spit in his food.
The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department has denied the claims and believes that Brooks is being treated appropriately by staff members.
