KENOSHA, Wis. — Just two days after Kenosha County Eye published a story in which District Attorney Xavier Solis accused Judge Chad Kerkman of knowingly misleading a county committee, the publisher faced what appears to be retaliation: photography access to Kenosha County’s intake court was formally denied for the first time.
Kevin Mathewson, publisher of KCE, has photographed intake court proceedings “probably a hundred times” over the last five years since the website’s founding in 2020, without issue. Intake court is where defendants make their initial appearances, and for years the court has permitted media photography under Supreme Court Rule 61.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
But today, with Commissioner William Michel II’s pen, came a short order that broke that streak:
“Kevin Mathewson request is denied. Comm. William Michel.”
Multiple courthouse sources confirm Michel acted under direction from Judge Kerkman—who has no authority to issue such directives to a commissioner. Even more troubling, the directive applied only to Kenosha County Eye, not to any other news outlet. This selective enforcement amplifies Mathewson’s case for appeal to the Chief Judge—and potentially for a federal lawsuit over discriminatory treatment of a single media organization.
A Record of Photo Credentialing Across Courts
Over the past five years, Mathewson has been credentialed hundreds of times under Supreme Court Rule 61 specifically for courtroom photography. These approvals have come from about four different intake commissioners and countless supplemental commissioners, each applying the rule fairly and consistently.
Mathewson has also been credentialed for courtroom photography in Racine, Walworth, Brown, and Milwaukee Counties, as well as in Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie Municipal Courts.
To be clear, Mathewson, like any member of the public, may enter any courtroom, including intake, at any time. The only activity requiring judicial permission is photography. And until today, that permission has never been denied except twice—both times tied directly to Judge Kerkman.
The first was about two years ago, when Kerkman declared KCE “not a news site but an opinion site.” That claim was later undermined in a defamation lawsuit, when the Honorable Judge David Wilk ruled in Mathewson’s favor and explicitly found that he had reporter’s privilege under Wisconsin law, confirming his status as a member of the news media.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson)
Mathewson has also served as a pool photographer in high-profile, nationally covered trials:
- The Mark Jensen retrial, approved by Judge Anthony Milisauskas.
- The Zachariah Anderson murder trial, approved by Judge Bruce Schroeder.
.
Both veteran judges recognized Mathewson without hesitation as a member of the news media.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Judges With Integrity Still Allow Access
Just yesterday, Mathewson photographed the 70-year sentencing of convicted attempted murderer Myron Bowie, with permission from Judge Gerad Dougvillo. Judges in Kenosha County continue to exercise full authority in their own courtrooms, and unlike Kerkman, they have not tried to interfere with that authority.
Defense attorneys, current and former judges, and other members of the legal community often say bluntly that Chad Kerkman is the most arrogant and nastiest judge in the district.
Banning Attempt Rebuffed
Recently, Kerkman even sent an email to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department ordering deputies to ban Mathewson from entering courtroom 157, where intake is held. Deputies flatly refused, noting the order was unconstitutional and reminding colleagues that Kerkman is not their boss. Of course, deputies can limit where photographers may stand or move in a courtroom for safety or decorum, but like any citizen, Mathewson has the right to sit in the gallery every single day if he chooses.
Political Bias and Personal Animus
Kerkman is a life-long liberal who, according to multiple courthouse insiders, personally despises Mathewson. His critics say this latest move has less to do with court management and more to do with personal vendetta.
Not a Permanent Ban—But a Targeted One
Mathewson stresses that this denial is limited solely to photography in intake court. He still retains full access to every courtroom in Kenosha County, including intake. “This may make some of my critics smile,” Mathewson said, “but this order is temporary and only affects intake court photography. I can still photograph in any other courtroom with permission and cover all of the news the same as I have for the last five years. Kerkman’s childish tactics won’t work. I don’t feel intimidated by corrupt bullies, especially ones in a robe.”
What’s Next?
Mathewson says he will appeal the denial to Chief Judge Wynne Laufenberg, who oversees the district and has the sole authority to resolve disputes under Supreme Court Rule 61. “Michel’s real boss is her—and the eight Kenosha County judges collectively,” Mathewson said. “Not Kerkman, despite his daily insistence otherwise.”
He also plans to file a judicial commission complaint against Kerkman, setting the stage for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review his conduct.
Denied Warrant Under Kerkman’s Direction
This is not the first time Commissioner Michel II has been caught following Kerkman’s lead. The District Attorney’s Office recently sought an arrest warrant for a woman who repeatedly violated a restraining order protecting Mathewson. Michel denied the request at Kerkman’s order. While the warrant was denied, the woman is still charged and is due back in court later this month. “Kerkman ordered Michel to do something potentially harmful to my family. Neither Kerkman nor Michel have integrity. When people mess with my family, the results aren’t usually favorable – I’ve never lost in court.” said Mathewson.
Judge Kerkman’s Political Calendar
For transparency, Kerkman’s campaign registration statement is below and shows he was elected on April 6, 2021, and is up for re-election in April 2027. Many in the legal community have already expressed interest in unseating him, with the election starting next year. Readers can explore KCE for extensive coverage of Kerkman’s judicial record, appellate reversals, temperament issues, and controversial decisions.
“If Kerkman thinks he can shut down the media and suppress reporting of his bad decisions, lack of knowledge of the law, terrible temperament, and misconduct by petty decisions like this? I’m his huckleberry,” said Mathewson.
The fight for open courts and fair media access in Kenosha will soon be before Chief Judge Laufenberg—and could soon reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Federal court.
If readers agree or disagree with Judge Kerkman’s conduct in this matter, they may email him directly at [email protected].
58 Responses
e-mail has been sent.
This is very disturbing, indeed. It is the act of a petty tyrant and is a clear threat to our democracy. I hope Kevin fights it.
I must point out that President Trump has done the same thing against media who reports the truth about him.
We are talking at the local level, not the nationwide level. The media attacking the President are full of nonsense, just like you, repeating the same message five times. If you are implying that our President is a liar, you’d better save your twisted comments for your next meeting with your Antifa buddies. If you support KM, then you support our President.
It is clear that you are too stupid and brainwashed to see that Kerkman and Trump are doing the exact same thing.
https://youtu.be/U1FxfR3lg6Q?si=b-X_si3BSJHEHRmg
I support Kevin, but I don’t support what Trump has done to journalists. I sure Kevin would agree. I doubt Kevin will say so because he would fear impossible task of convincing an idiot like you that you are fully and completely wrong.
You again? Trolling in the EYE against Trump? You wrote the same message 9 times already. Why don’t you go for a drink with Terry Flores and Sargent Hard?
Name ONE thing that the President “has done to journalists”? Not any made up BS, actual facts.
This should be good….
I found this link that should conform to your reality. This was widely reported. Since you would reject anything news account from any where except your cult approved sources, I looked for something from an outlet you might find acceptable. I also know that it is hard for you people to read. Thus, this is a video story. I know it is hard for you to accept the truth, but I tried to lead you out of the ignorant wilderness.
https://youtu.be/L508xLiRb4Q?si=VfLvRmm-bz21WG6e
Ap is biased. Was once dependable and ethical. No longer.
Not sure how Trump got mentioned in this, but your moronic TDS means you have to somehow interject him into any screed you make.
BTW, slander and libel by the media is NOT the same as reporting “the truth about him”.
You just keep on believing that. Critical thinking is hard.
Even tho Chad and Sam are no longer married, what each does is intertwined with the other. In this case, chaD is not helping Sam- makes the name look bad-really bad. Make a call Sam and give some advice. As it is, it appears that the kerkman name (should have dropped that bugger years ago) is gonna be part of wisc Supreme searches and not in a good way.
Make a call Sam, send a message. Be pelosi-do it for the kids.
Stop messing with my President, wannabe troll!
Sam is a closet lefty herself. Completely useless and a stain on Kenosha county
Sam is no stranger to retaliation herself.
Several of my co-workers have reached out to KCE with inside information, and we’ve been on the receiving end of threats from Sam & her directors.
This is an act of a petty tyrant and it threatens democracy. I hope Kevin fights it.
I need to point out that President Trump has and continues to do the same thing against media who reports the truth about him. If you are outraged over Kerkman’s tyranny, you must also be outraged by Trump’s.
We are talking at the local level, not the nationwide level. The media attacking the President are full of nonsense, just like you, repeating the same message five times. If you are implying that our President is a liar, you’d better save your twisted comments for your next meeting with your Antifa buddies. If you support Kevin, then you support our President. Protect your IP. Besides being ignorant and liberal, you also seem very stupid.
It is clear that you are too stupid and brainwashed to see that Kerkman and Trump are doing the exact same thing.
https://youtu.be/U1FxfR3lg6Q?si=b-X_si3BSJHEHRmg
What is it with democrats/liberals/progressives/communists/socialists who continue to think that repeating lies over and over and over, makes is somehow true.
“Six feet stops the spread”; “Triple-masked stops the spread”; RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA!; The laptop is fake….
Kerkman’s dangerous act of tyranny threatens our democracy. I hope Kevin fights it.
I must point out that Kerkman’s tyranny is no different than that of Trump’s. Trump also retaliated against media who was critical of him. Both Trump and Kerkman are unfit to serve.
The only one unfitted is you. You freaking liberal. Kamala lost, in case you missed it.
The commish ain’t gonna exercise independent judgment or actually apply the rule. That guy loves serving “at the pleasure” of the berobed.
That’s why he was picked for the job.
Kerkman’s dangerous act of tyranny threatens democracy. I hope Kevin fights it.
It is important to point out that Kerkman’s retaliation against Kevin for reporting the truth, is no different than Trump’s retaliation against media outlets who are critical of him.
A tyrant is a tyrant, no matter what side they are on.
We are talking at the local level, not the nationwide level. The media attacking the President are full of nonsense, just like you, repeating the same message five times. If you are implying that our President is a liar, you’d better save your twisted comments for your next meeting with your Antifa buddies. If you support Mathewson, then you support our President. Protect your IP. Besides being ignorant and liberal, you also seem very stupid.
We are talking at the local level. The media attacking the President are full of crap, just like you, repeating the same message five times. If you are implying that our President is a liar, you’d better save your twisted comments for your next meeting with your Antifa buddies. If you support Mathewson, then you support our President. Protect your IP. Besides being ignorant and liberal, you also seem very stupid.
You are brainwashed if you can not see that Kerkman’s act of retaliation against Kevin is exactly what Trump is doing on a national level. What an idiot!
https://youtu.be/U1FxfR3lg6Q?si=b-X_si3BSJHEHRmg
Leave Trump out, ya troll ya!
Holy shit, Jerkman thinks he’s king. Unbelievable.
The biggest lie taught in school is that judges are fair and unbiased!
Jerkman LMAO
Boy do they have something to hide
Judge Kerkman is simply a bully in a robe seemingly knowing little about actual laws.
Little man syndrome, like little yappy dogs
And just like that the leftist like berg, capito and now Kenosha eye ball will be all for taking rights away, when they cry they have rights. They will praise this while complaining
Man I was thinking the same thing Kenosha county eye and that girl complain about this guy and his site but post about this minutes after it’s posted by Kevin. Get a life. Jeez. It’s embarrassing
Imagine spending all day doing this. Every day.
lol they are telling Kenosha county eyeball congratulations for this. Hahaha
This will ultimately be a battle the judge is bound to lose. It’s puzzling why Kerkman wants this fight, it will only lead to bad press. Strange.
Quite a bit to unpack here. First, as for excluding Kevin from the courtroom, here’s what the law says:
Wis. Stat s. 757.14 “The sittings of every court shall be public and every citizen may freely attend the same, including proceedings held by telephone or videoconferencing technology, except if otherwise expressly provided by law. If the content of the proceeding is deemed graphic or obscene, the judge or justice may exclude from the courtroom all minors not present as parties or witnesses. The court may utilize electronic means to allow the public the ability to hear and see, in real time, all proceedings in a manner as similar as practicable to being present in the courtroom.”
Second, while trial judges have broad discretion in allowing electronic and photographic coverage in a courtroom, applying discretion in a discriminatory manner for the purposes of retaliation is highly inappropriate. The Chief Judge should quickly act to restore fair access to all media outlets. Kenosha County Eye may rub some people the wrong way BUT it is a legitimate news outlet.
This is not a liberal vs. conservative (or vice versa) issue. Here’s Art. I, sec. 3 of the Wisconsin Constitution: “Every person may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right, and no laws shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence, and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous be true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact.”
This is obviously unconstitutional.
And only a shallow, biased and completely ignorant person would even think they have the right to do this.
There are going to be lots of challenges to incumbents in the next few years for reasons such as this. People in power who think they are above the law or can make it up as they go along.
Anyone on either side of the isle who has any desire to be in elected office should be reading the tea leaves here. Start your campaigns. Get out to all sorts of public meetings throughout the county.
Make yourself known. Speak during public comments times on the various town, village and county agendas. You don’t need to speak on any topic on any agenda. You are free to just introduce yourself and say whatever is on your mind.
Tell us who you are. What office you are interested in. How you can do better. Be ready for the next election. Don’t wait for the limited time between nomination petitions and the primaries.
Get out now. Be seen. Be heard. We are all looking for the better person and candidate in all offices.
Is that you ?
And only a shallow, biased and completely ignorant person would even think they have the right to do this.
There are going to be lots of challenges to incumbents in the next few years for reasons such as this. People in power who think they are above the law or can make it up as they go along.
Anyone on either side of the isle who has any desire to be in elected office should be reading the tea leaves here. Start your campaigns. Get out to all sorts of public meetings throughout the county.
Make yourself known. Speak during public comments times on the various town, village and county agendas. You don’t need to speak on any topic on any agenda. You are free to just introduce yourself and say whatever is on your mind.
Tell us who you are. What office you are interested in. How you can do better. Be ready for the next election. Don’t wait for the limited time between nomination petitions and the primaries.
Get out now. Be seen. Be heard. We are all looking for the better person and candidate in all offices.
Is that you ?
Twin Lakes finest…. Have you met his mom? Haaaaaaaaa I see where he gets his nasty streak!
Please don’t involve his mother in this situation. The issue is about the son, not her.
Why not? they use “character” as a measuring stick in court proceedings. Post conviction reports include parents, siblings, friends, etc. etc. etc. All is fair in love and war!
Even in war, there are rules of engagement. Let’s avoid collateral damage. This is a battle that has already been won. JerKman just doesn’t know it yet.
I don’t blame commissioner Michel for doing what the robes demand. Like his predecessors, he is there to follow orders—and when he doesn’t, coercion is applied. Sad as it may be, that’s exactly how the system works.
Perhaps you should take the time to investigate and interview them. In fact, that’s exactly why commissioner Keating left—he was fed up with all of this.
He is trying his best. He doesn’t want to lose his job. He is not only criticized for setting bails that are either too low or too high, but he also has to follow orders on how to rule. Otherwise, he faces threats of being terminated.
Just checking to see if my comment will post. It’s not posting on the other one.
Apparently, Kevin is inconveniencing someone with power or with powerful friends. I also had issues logging in and trying to post. The comments finally managed to make it. Maybe someone is messing with his page.
I’ve been having trouble all week.
Out of 5 comments only one posted in real time.
On this story I wrote a comment. It disappeared. To then only finally post a few hours later.
Website is definitely weirding out.
Hacking ?? Bad hosting ??
Someone needs to get to the bottom of this. I’m losing interest in reading and posting.
But thank you for saying you are also having trouble. Thought I was all alone.
Glad is isn’t me
Me too, a crazy reader thought I deliberately posted 3 times..
Again this Corrupt judge thinks he can do and bulling others into his agenda, He needs to be removed asap this is so ridicules that he thinks he can do and say whatever he wishes , He need to be gone from Kenosha courts , We stand with you Kevin, Make them all accountable for their corrupt actions, Ha Chad maybe you can go join Claire Binger.
Kenosha should know about this guy and his Lake Geneva life < Not really what a law Judge should be Doing, Corrupt as hell the good o boy club
I willing to bet all these corrupt ass people get together and try set Kevin up, I sure hope Kenosha realizes the level these boys will play at.
There’s a long history of abuse by Jerkman toward his officials. Why don’t you investigate this with his former clerks and bailiffs? They were unfairly humiliated before being sent to a different court. Did they have any support from HR or co-workers? Nah, no one dares. Let’s see what the Supreme Court has to say about this if you dig in and report it.
Dig it all up Kevin make it all public all of it, this guy and his ex-wife need to be gone thats the only way Kenosha will start to rebuild their justice system,