Court presiding over Darrell Brooks trial clarifies what will happen to hundreds of messages, gifts received

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The court presiding over the Darrell Brooks trial clarified how it's handling the vast number of messages and gifts received during and after the trial in a memo filed on Friday, Nov. 4.

The Waukesha County Courthouse received hundreds of letters, cards, emails and gifts, most of them addressed to Judge Jennifer Dorow.

The memo states that the court has not, and will not, consider any of the correspondence in its handling of the case, including in the upcoming sentencing.

"This court is taking every step possible to avoid the correspondence and not review it until after the case has been concluded. Even this court knowing about the correspondence and gifts has not, and will not, influence this court in any way," the memo said.

It goes on to state that the court has not, and will not, respond to any of the messages, with the exception of one out-of-state judge who reached out to discuss a similar situation.

"Although the court responded by asking that judge for her contact information to possibly discuss her thoughts as one judge to another, this court did not ultimately have any discussion with that judge," the memo said.

The memo states the court's staff returned gifts to the senders when possible.

Gifts, including flowers, candy and Edible Arrangements, were redistributed among the clerk's office and staff, according to the memo. 

"At one point, the court also instructed the clerk of court to reach out to local flower shops to advise them not to deliver any further flower arrangements. The court also advised that any further deliveries should be turned away or given to a local charity or nearby nursing home," the memo said.

The correspondence is being kept in general file at the courthouse and is available to the public. 

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