Judge in Waukesha Christmas parade killer trial to run for Wisconsin Supreme Court

Julia Johnson

November 29, 04:38 PM November 29, 04:38 PM

Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow, who presided over the trial for Christmas parade killer Darrell Brooks, will run for Wisconsin's Supreme Court in the spring.

Earlier this month, Dorow sentenced Brooks to six terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of extended supervision for the six people whose deaths he is responsible for. After pleading not guilty to 77 counts for his actions during the Waukesha Christmas parade in November 2021, a jury found Brooks guilty of every criminal charge brought against him, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide.

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The tragedy gained national attention when it occurred, and Brooks's behavior during his trial a year later kept the case in the headlines and allowed it to gain notoriety on both TikTok and Twitter. Dorow also gained fame during the trial for how she dealt with Brooks's misbehavior.

Dorow's family confirmed her intentions to run for Supreme Court with a local television station.

"It’s been so overwhelming to receive so much support and encouragement to consider running for the state Supreme Court,” the judge said.

An appointee of then-Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) in 2011, Dorow is expected to be a conservative candidate. She would be running to replace retiring conservative Justice Pat Roggensack. Several others are vying for the position, including conservative former Justice Daniel Kelly as well as Dane County Judge Everett Mitchell and Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz, who would both be liberal justices.

They will all face off in a February primary, wherein the two who receive the most votes will advance to the April general election.

Asked about competing with conservative Kelly, she said, "When you look generally at elections, I think it’s not a bad thing to have options and to have healthy, vigorous debate among candidates."