Community members were asked by a Manitowoc County judge not to wear Elijah Vue t-shirts when attending court appearances, March 7, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Individuals who attend future court appearances related to the disappearance of Elijah Vue cannot wear any expressive attire in the courtroom, a judge said Thursday.
Manitowoc County Judge Robert Dewane issued the order after community members came to court wearing blue t-shirts showing Vue’s face, with the words “Missing” and “Please help find Elijah Vue.”
It happened near the end of the initial court appearance of Katrina Baur, Vue’s mother. She and her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, were jailed on charges of child neglect after Vue was reported missing Feb. 20 from Two Rivers.
“I got no problem if people want to cover them up with a jacket, but I typically don’t allow those to be worn or exposed in the courtroom,” Dewane said. “I’ll let you know, going forward, you show up wearing the shirt, you’ll be shown the door. And it’s not for any reason other than I’m trying to maintain the temperature in the courtroom here.”
Experts say judges asking court attendees to refrain from wearing expressive attire, such as shirts emblazoned with a victim’s face or name, is a common practice in order to keep the court proceedings fair and objective.
“I did not like that decision, but I will go with the judge and cover it up. It will still be on me, you just can’t see it. I will continue to wear this shirt,” said Two Rivers resident Maria Wright.
Constance Brooks, also of Two Rivers, said, “I understand that. If we can’t wear them, we won’t wear them. But that doesn’t stop us from wearing them outside.”
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