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Who is Kevin Costello? Waukesha court commissioner slammed for $5M bail on Darrell Brooks

Darrell Brooks also happens to be a career criminal with a long history of past arrests and convictions

Darrell E. Brooks Jr, the suspect at the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy, was reportedly released on an 'inappropriately low' bail of $1,000 just two days before the attack. He has now been charged with 5 counts of intentional murder and his first trial was set in the Waukesha County Court. Now, people are slamming Waukesha County Court Commissioner Kevin Costello for setting bail of $5 million for Brooks, despite the heinous and horrifying nature of his crime. Brooks also happens to be a career criminal with a long history of past arrests and convictions.

On November 21, Brooks drove his red SUV through the parade killing 6 people and injuring over 62. Following the tragedy, the Milwaukee District Attorney's Office admitted that it was inappropriate on their part to allow Brooks to get out of the jail on a $1,000 bond. He was reportedly arrested for trying to run over his ex-girlfriend with a car, who also happened to be the mother of his child. Wisconsin natives, as well as internet users from across the USA, had earlier lashed out at Milwaukee County District Attorney John T Chisholm for letting him out on bail.

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While setting the bail amount, Waukesha judge Kevin Costello justified his opinion behind setting the bail amount. He said, "I’m an old guy who has been doing this for almost 40 years as a criminal defense attorney - 17 or 18 years as a (court) commissioner in Milwaukee and now Waukesha - the nature of this offense is shocking."

Costello, a veteran judge who has served as the court commissioner for nearly 17 years, was appointed to Waukesha County in 2018. He has worked as a lawyer for over 38 years. He is a graduate of Marquette University.  After obtaining his law degree in 1983, Kevin M Costello served at U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin. 

Though he insisted that the bail amount of $5 million cash was exorbitantly high for 'indigent' Brooks, critics argued that he might crowdsource the cash or someone might volunteer to pay him. Many social media users pointed out that supporters of Kyle Rittenhouse had crowdfunded the bail amount of $2 million for him, before he was acquitted of two murders recently. 

Conservative talk show host Larry Elder tweeted, "DARRELL BROOKS Allegedly shoots at nephew: $500 Bail Accused of hitting woman, running over her with an SUV: $1,000 Bail Arrested for murdering 6, injuring 50 after driving SUV into a Waukesha Christmas parade: $5Million BAIL TOOK A WHILE FOR THE SYSTEMIC RACISM TO KICK IN!"

"Court Commissioner Kevin Costello sets bail! The premise of Brooks being loose to begin with was that he always had bail! He didn’t need bail today— even at 5M! Costello is another disengaged loser," a Twitter user brutally lambasted Costello. 

Another critic tweeted, "Why would they even think of giving him bail, if they hadn't the last time those people would still be alive"

"Darrell Brooks Jr has already displayed his contempt for bail and the justice system MANY MANY TIMES, so WHY IS BAIL EVEN AN OPTION anymore?" Republican politician Lavern Spicer tweeted.