(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — The conflict between Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman and local journalist Kevin Mathewson escalated sharply this week after multiple courthouse sources confirmed that on September 9, 2025, between 2 and 3 p.m., Kerkman contacted the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department in an attempt to initiate a criminal investigation against Mathewson — not because of threats, harassment, or intimidation, but because Mathewson has repeatedly published critical reporting about the judge’s conduct on and off the bench. The referral came just four days after KCE published a blistering investigative report scrutinizing Kerkman’s behavior, rulings, and conduct in the courthouse.
Deputies declined to investigate due to Kerkman’s ongoing working relationship with the agency. The request was instead forwarded to the Wisconsin State Capitol Police — the agency typically tasked with investigating alleged threats against judges and public officials.
Individuals familiar with the referral say Kerkman is attempting to claim that Mathewson’s reporting meets the legal elements required for felony prosecution — specifically:
Element 3. “The defendant intended that the public posting … create[ed] or increase[d] a threat to the health and safety of the judicial officer.“
Element 4. “Under the circumstances, bodily injury or death of the judicial officer was a natural and probable consequence of the posting…”
Legal experts reviewing the situation told KCE the theory collapses immediately because nothing in Mathewson’s reporting — or his publication history — contains threats or anything a reasonable person could interpret as causing fear of harm or death.
One attorney reacted with disbelief:
“No reasonable judge — or reasonable human being — would believe journalism meets either of those elements. This isn’t just weak — it’s absurd.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
A Pattern: Targeting Critics Isn’t New
This is not the first time Judge Kerkman has attempted to use government authority against someone who criticized or challenged him.
As previously reported by KCE, Kerkman repeatedly filed complaints with the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) attempting to have a local attorney disciplined after she challenged his conduct in court. All of his complaints were rejected.
Not only did the OLR dismiss them — but the Wisconsin Court of Appeals later overturned rulings connected to those disputes, finding that Kerkman violated the law.
Multiple courthouse employees, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pattern is unmistakable:
“When someone exposes him, he doesn’t fix it — he tries to punish the person who did it.”
Legal Reality: No Path to Charges
Attorneys specializing in First Amendment protections and Wisconsin criminal law say the referral has no prosecutorial future whatsoever.
Mathewson’s reporting does not threaten harm and does not satisfy either of the required legal elements.
One attorney summarized it bluntly:
“If critical reporting qualifies as a felony, then every investigative journalist in the country belongs in prison. That is not how the Constitution functions.”
Part of an Ongoing Escalation
This attempted criminal referral is only the most recent escalation in Kerkman’s deteriorating response to scrutiny.
Since September, KCE reporting has documented repeated allegations from attorneys, courthouse staff, and observers describing Kerkman’s behavior as erratic, retaliatory, or unprofessional. Reported issues include:
- Attempts to block KCE from observing intake court, resulting in a federal lawsuit
- Public confrontations with interpreters, attorneys, and staff
- Emotional outbursts witnessed in the courthouse
- Actions described as retaliation after critical reporting
- Criminal charges filed against his bailiff
Residents living near Kerkman have also reported seeing police officers at his home recently multiple times.
Mathewson Responds
Mathewson said Friday the situation confirms exactly what many have warned about.
“Judge Kerkman wants me prosecuted because I reported facts — overturned rulings, courthouse conduct, and the criminal charges against his bailiff.”
He continued:
“Nothing in my reporting comes close to element three or element four. Journalism isn’t intending harm, and printing facts does not make bodily injury or death a ‘natural and probable consequence.’ It’s absurd — and frankly alarming — that someone with so little self-control, and so little understanding of basic criminal procedure, is elected to serve as a judge in the same county where I am raising my children.”
Mathewson added:
“Judges don’t get to criminalize criticism. That’s not how America works.”
Historical and Legal Context
Attorney Michael Cicchini, a Wisconsin criminal defense lawyer and published legal scholar, once wrote a law review article about the role of the press in judicial accountability. Quoting journalist Ambrose Bierce, Cicchini highlighted a warning that now reads like a direct commentary on the current situation:
[Ambrose Bierce] urged “that the corrupt practices in our courts of law be uncovered to public view, whenever that is possible, by . . . the press.” . . . Bierce rejected the dire warnings “about attacks upon the dignity of the Bench, bringing the judiciary into disrepute and the rueful rest of it.” He believed that a truly competent and dignified judge “needs not the artificial safeguarding which is a heritage of the old days when if dissent found a tongue the public executioner cut it out.” Instead, “The Bench will be sufficiently respected when it is no longer a place where dullards dream and rogues rob . . .” Until that time, he contended, “respect is out of the question and ought to be.”
What Happens Next
The Wisconsin State Capitol Police have not confirmed whether the referral resulted in an active case or whether it was dismissed immediately. Multiple legal observers say even if paperwork exists, continued action appears unlikely.
For now, routine investigative reporting has escalated into a confrontation between judicial authority and constitutional press protections.
Mathewson ended with:
“Chad — this is not a banana republic. And I don’t care how many cops you talk to or how many letters you send me notarized by your close friend T. Clair Binger — I will not stop reporting on your misconduct, and I’m not going to dismiss my federal lawsuit against you. I’m not going anywhere. You are a small, dainty man — far too small and far too dainty to pretend you’re intimidating. Put on your big boy pants.”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
54 Responses
I stand with KCE!!!!
Kevin. You will come out on top, again.
Chad, quit listening to mommie
Jerkman seems to have forgotten the call of his liberal friends:
NO KINGS!
^
Kerkman needs to be voted out and seems better suited to the public defender’s office defending guys without pants inhaling sex shop chemicals while masturbating.
LMFAO! I just read that story.
You have got to be joking 🙃 so sad all your bullshit has been brought to light. I can say 100% I’ll never be in his courtroom, so listen to this Judge Kerkgirl, you are a dirty bitch! You have zero respect left in the community. So go swallow your boy toys cock and then sit in the corner and pout.
These replies are getting Sick!!!!!’
No, what is sick is this judge’s behavior. He needs to be exposed, along with his boy toy. Sadly for him, EVERYTHING KCE published is FACT and public record. It sucks to be exposed for your true colors and hopefully this will be his last time wearing that robe.
If you think the replies are sick, then you haven’t been paying attention to the behavior of this judge and who he hangs around with. Most stereotypes have some basis in fact, and so do most criticisms. This guy is a sick f*** who’s a smear on a Judges bench.
Judge Pole Smoker.
You got the faith and the stones, thanks for doing what you are doing. I think it’s a great thing forwarding this on to people to investigate his claims, since that means they’re going to have to read your scathing article on him. Maybe that’ll be enough to make them start investigating him.
40255 105th St
Genoa City, WI 53128 protest outside Chad Kerkmans house on the public property by his driveway. Let your voices heard citizens
Does this ‘judge’ actually earn enough to afford a $800k home?
Dear Kevin,
Fight the good fight. Chad, Samatha, Tony Evers and others don’t quite understand that they were defeated years ago. They do not understand that they have been investigated from a Constitution perspective and have been found “wanting” (non-biblical). They’re literally the equivalent of lemmings. They (and other judges) continue to behave administratively and lack Article 3 authority to do so. They have for all intents-and-purposes committed treason with a big T. Now they will stomp around for a while more, but sooner or later they will be confronted by lets say “Constitutionally sound” individuals. Angelina ballerina, Heather Iverson, Chad Kerkman, Fat bastard Rossell……..Criminal drug dealing sheriff as well, will how shall I say, “Shit there pants”. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time:) Fire on.
People of the Kerkmans, Michel, Rossell, Zoerner, & Evers’s ilks only go away when either imprisoned, which is effectively impossible in a fully degenerated modern (not prior era) Democrat infiltrated and infected justice system, or upon their deaths. These people’s personal psychological identities are anchored upon their need to control others for personal validation of their existences.
Congratulations to Eye…but be careful. Just as with Trump who has survived two assassination attempts after a major election rig followed by mass criminal intent lawfare all failed, Eye had better be very vigilent. This ilk is capable of anything at any level. Regrettably, the Good and Right, isn’t – yet.
Hey Chad, stick to sucking Bingo’s dick you queer F*@k.
Game over goofball!!!!
Deep state goon Chad kerkman EXPOSED good work Kevin.
This judge is a tyrant. He needs to be removed from the bench for his distain for our Constitution. The first amendment is one of the most important to maintaining a strong democracy.
What I don’t understand is most commentators on this site are incapable of understanding that President Trump acts in the same manner. Why are all you people ok with Trump?
Trump likes women. He’s normal.
No, he likes teenaged girls. That is why Epstein was his bestie.
The dude is the most vetted person in history. If there was anything there the Biden justice department would have used it instead of going with the bs they tried to charge him with. Just because you have TDS doesn’t make it true. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Blah, blah, blah, blah. That’s what we hear when you talk about Trump. 😀
That is because you people are intellectually incapable of dealing with the inconsistency of your worship of Trump.
lol here’s the tds loser trying to make people mad. Yawn.
You are 100%, but what option was there? Harris/Walz? No thanks, I’ll take Trump all day over those two.
According to the Urban Dictionary, KUDGE is defined as:
A mixture of blood, sweat, semen, urine, feces, boogers, vomit, mucus, dandruff, diarrhea, saliva, earwax, phlegm, stool water, snot, rheum, vaginal juices, pimple puss, tears, oily discharge, head grease, etc.
You forgot smegma.
You’re welcome.
You deserve to be banned because you are not a real journalist. You do shady reporting and do not report all facts. There is alot coming to surface about you along with a giant lawsuit headed your way. You wreck innocent lives with your articles and twisted reporting well this time you messed up
Look up the meaning of journalist. Are you a bestie of the Kerman’s?
Kevin is keeping the community informed. Nothing like his expose has ever been made public. I for one applaud his continued efforts
For what? Another big talker. Despite what you think, he’s been accepted by the Kenosha County court system as an approved journalist. You and others who feel slighted may not like it, but that’s a fact. What amazes me is how people claim someone isn’t a journalist just because they don’t agree with them. Have you watched network news? It’s far more controversial than KCE. So, get a grip and argue your disagreement, but claiming his articles have no merit is just plain wrong.
Mike Rizzo is that you? Or bitch boy Jason Barnhill?
Big threats, I’m sure we will all still be reading KCE in a year.
Sounds like someone acted a fool and KCE reported about them. Here’s an idea: don’t me a dumbass and you won’t get a story written about you 🤣
No one is untouchable, justice will be served and the wicked shall be smitten.
Jerkman needs to be removed from the bench. He is so corrupt that no one can be treated fairly in his courtroom. The fact that he wants to jail a journalist for reporting on the horrors of his courtroom is quite telling. I hope that this goes to the State Supreme Court. you will win, Kevin as you are a truth teller
Kevin is a truth teller who improves our lives with his courage.
But how come none of you people can grasp that Kerkman is cut from the same cloth as Trump? How is it possible to condemn Kerkman and support Trump?
He needs to not try and go through the clerk of courts for the supreme court that guy blocked my trying to get the supreme court notified of the same misconduct with a different judge. Then I called Madison police n they won’t investigate. Suing them personally is the only way to go. Just hope those judges don’t cover the misbehavior.
The libs love their power. This jerkoff needs to go
Well it seems like whoever has the most money & legal clearance in this situation will win. Or shall I say money to burn on legal counsel. I’m not impressed by any of it
They certainly do love their power and are not going anywhere because there are too many warped wacko women and beta/homo males (non-men) that vote for them. And the election officials and their vote counters are almost all Democrat females protected by a legal system filled with the same types. A fused system can’t be fixed.
Exactly as the system is designed. If you have enough money and the right political juice, one can do whatever they want and remain free and clear.
Go Kevin go! Thank you for exposing the corruption in this city! The judge Kerkman needs to resign!
For reasons unknown, he is too proud to resign. That man should have nothing to be proud about.
Gay Pride.
Which is a sin.
Chad Kerkman has been a dour and vindictive man for many years. He ran a smear campaign to get elected. What’s particularly sad is that he comes from a good family and should know better.
Quiet piggy.
Yawn.
Thank you for the work you do, Kevin. It would be business as usual for these corrupt bureaucrats if not for good journalism.
Kerkman is a truely disturbed individual who in fact does need to be removed from his position, very tarnished judge who is unqualified….plus he’s just a very bad person… he’s nothing but a bitter sperm burper
Sounds like it’s time for a slap back suit and a RECALL Action. Let us know how we can help.
Chad – Samantha- Randy
Please move out of Kenosha
Kevin I hope you sue the hell out of them
Good luck .