Kyle Rittenhouse extradited to Wisconsin after Illinois judge's ruling

Shortly before 5 p.m., FOX6 learned Kyle Rittenhouse is no longer in Illinois and in the custody of Kenosha County authorities. An Illinois judge on Friday ordered the extradition of the 17-year-old accused in the fatal shooting of two demonstrators in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Kyle Rittenhouse

The ruling in Rittenhouse’s case came after a hearing at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Illinois. Defense lawyers sought to persuade Judge Paul Novak to block their client’s transfer to Wisconsin to face homicide charges.

Rittenhouse’s attorneys argued he acted in self-defense on Aug. 25 when he opened fire during unrest after the shooting of a Black man by a white police officer in Kenosha. They said the charges are politically motivated and that extraditing the teenager would violate his constitutional rights.

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Lake County prosecutors have said those arguments were irrelevant on the question of extradition and that it’s the role of a Wisconsin judge, not one in Illinois, to decide whether there are sufficient grounds for charges.

The proceedings didn’t last long, with his attorney focusing on what he called “fatal defects” in extradition papers arguing Rittenhouse should remain in Illinois. But prosecutors said the law is unambiguous in requiring Rittenhouse's extradition and that blocking his transfer would undermine the justice system. 

In Wisconsin, Rittenhouse faces first-degree intentional homicide for fatally shooting two protesters, which carries a life prison sentence. He is also charged with attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third protester.

Court records show he is due back in court on November 6 for the status of the extradition.

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