(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha, Wis. — Assistant District Attorney Paul Lasswell was terminated last week after a series of troubling incidents in and out of the courtroom, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Lasswell had been a licensed attorney for less than three months.
The Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office would not confirm the termination but did acknowledge that Lasswell is no longer employed there. In a brief statement, the office said it could not comment further, citing personnel confidentiality.
Lasswell’s departure follows several recent allegations of unprofessional and erratic conduct. In one courtroom episode, he allegedly stormed out of the courtroom during a trial, leading to a mistrial. In another, he was reportedly screaming at a pro-se criminal defendant in such a disruptive manner that courthouse deputies had to intervene.
The most serious incident appears to be a March 31 email Lasswell sent to a local criminal defense attorney—referred to here as “Monica”—from his state email address. In the message, Lasswell ridiculed her intelligence, accused her of faking outrage, and referred to her in Spanish as “una perra pequeña,” or “a little bitch.”
“I suspect you’re going for a sort of Doberman thing, but it’s giving chihuahua — threatening only to my patience and headache,” he wrote.
Lasswell also suggested Monica would get better results by being more agreeable with him: “She strikes me… as a very intelligent and capable woman who doesn’t need to come knives out to get what she wants, least of all from me.”
KCE has filed an open records request for Lasswell’s personnel file, but it has not yet been released. KCE spoke to many defense attorneys who were all pleased with Solis’ decision. “I’m glad that our DA doesn’t tolerate such brazen disrespect,” one defense attorney told KCE. “It shows us that his office is expected to treat everyone with respect.” Lasswell also dismissed a serious gun case without permission from DA supervision.
Lasswell didn’t respond to KCE for a request for comment.
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47 Responses
This guy was handling a OWI case involving a drunk that hit my parents. Glad he’s gone before he could mess that case up
I don’t know if these allegations are true or not but even if partially correct they would be the worst personal conduct of a member of the DA’s office in 40 years.
Well, I don’t know about that. There have been some cases of hiding exculpatory evidence, for example. I would rank these allegations as unacceptable and even goofy, but certainly not the worst.
Binger
T. Claire ? 🤡
Now where are the ethics that should hold? There are none add some people are in with that. Leave your personal thoughts in the parking lot when you decide people’s fate. Ohhh it’s more to come……wait for it
wut
Black eye for Solis hiring someone with 3 month of legal background.
People hire lawyers fresh out of law school all the time. Relax
At least he didnt do too much damage before they realized he was a mistake. Give Solis that at least…..jeez! No black eye, Id say he was on it like stink on shit!
Went to law school with this douchebag. He was also that bad in class. Moreover, he graduated 2 years ago so if the article is right he had a very long character and fitness review with the state bar.
There’s a position open….
I was in the same class with both of you, and I was curious about this as well. His profile on the state bar website says he didn’t graduate until last year. I think he might have been on a part time four year program? Idk
Being a DA in Kenosha was never any lawyer’s dream. You hire from the pool of applicants. The Gravely/McNeil cabal all quit in a fit of pique!
I hear some of them can’t find jobs and may be reconsidering their high and mighty moral stand of not working for a Republican.
DA Solis is short handed thanks to the democrat walk off.
He is working every day behind the scene and in court.
Gravely had not been to court for years.
The bigger distinction here is that they left because they couldn’t fathom working for a defense attorney.
A Republican.
I hope he doesn’t hire them back.
It would be fun to watch them grovel for their jobs back.
They obviously never cared sbout justice or the people of Kenosha County.
Credit to the District Attorneys who stayed and gave Mr. Soils a chance.
As for the rest, they are hiring at McDonalds; or you could move to the middle of nowhere Wisconsin with the rest of the sour grapes Gavely/McNeil quitters and prosecute cow tipping tickets.
Is this Mike Gravely?
This has been a victory for those who left the DA’s office en masse and are now waiting to see Solis’ downfall. Some of the current staff remain because they couldn’t find employment elsewhere, and their lack of support for the new DA is reflected in the poor way they perform their duties.
What is going on with so many of the staff at Kenosha county?
Is the HR department that inept in hiring quality people?
Who else are you referring to?
Everyone .
Yes.
I don’t care if you’re looking for someone to work the cash register at a gas station or be a bartender, (though I know of one applicant) finding people to work at any job is difficult at best and virtually impossible at worst.
Even a “lawyer” who went through all the schooling AND passed the Bar, no pun intended, finding anyone with a work ethic is hard to do. Trial and error, pun intended, in this case is the new normal.
Hire ten. Hope five work out and then hope three stay for the long haul.
County fire departments have forever dealt with newbies getting their training here and then they jump ship to greener and more lucrative pastures later.
These days the pool of workers is shallower and shallower. The new normal
It’s still not that difficult to weed out, or avoid all together, the candidates with poor character qualities and no work ethic. Don’t even hire them to begin with- some people just cannot change.
Yeah.
When you are applying and interviewing for any job You are trying to sell yourself and be at your best.So you are not going to show your poor qualities or poor work ethics in an interview for a job.
Lack of quality people
who’s the bitch now
Monica is a very nice and zealous attorney. Wish she could be my attorney
Monica is the best. For anyone to question her is beyond me. If I needed a lawyer I would definitely want Monica on my side. She’s a pit bull in my book
Douche meet bag
Behold, your corpus delicti/juris.
Imagine the future corruption that was just removed from our judicial system.
This is preconceived power promised to a young man, and he believed it would make him respectable in the eyes of his fellow men.
Not knowing that the same men he was hunting with, would dine on his downfall to eat.
And shepherds we shall be for thee..
In nomine patris et filli et spiritus sancti
Great job DA office , Good old cleaning house … awesome !
Well, in this case, Solis is cleaning up the mess he created by hiring Lasswell in the first place. Bad hire, good fire.
Psych eval and drug testing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Never hire eccentric dudes for professional jobs
What a dirtbag!
I also went to law school with this guy. Beyond weirdo, was always condescending and misogynistic. He graduated in 2023 so I’m not sure why it took so long for him to get licensed in the first place, looking forward to reading about the OLR investigation!
Everyone seemingly went to the same Tier 4 law school as this guy. Interesting….
He went to Wisconsin, like basically every other lawyer in the state who didn’t go to Marquette. It’s a good school; this guy just sucks.
Yeah that sounds like Paul
As much as he sucked, that’s a prerequisite for being hired by the woke DA in Racine. He probably already has a job.
I’m a lawyer! 🤡
Thanks Kevin, for not only reporting this but digging farther into it. Looking forward to you eventually getting a hold of his personnel records. Will be interesting to see if he received reprimands or commendations for work like that.
Lots of shady things going on in Kenosha County Court house from the DA ‘s Lawyer’s Public Defender and so on hopefully they all get exposed.