A question she wishes were left unasked

Lawyers always say you should never ask a question of a witness unless you know what the answer is going to be.

Larraine McNamara-McGraw forgot that basic precept Thursday in a debate with her opponent in the Milwaukee district attorney's race, John Chisholm, before the Milwaukee Bar Assn.

WisPolitics reported in its Milwaukee Notes:

In his opening remarks, Chisholm, who's worked as a prosecutor in the Milwaukee County DA's office since 1994, said "real leadership" is needed in the DA's office. "In my case it's been real prosecutors in real units doing real jobs and making a real difference in the community," Chisholm said. "It's not make-believe leadership, I've done it for real."

Chisholm continued, saying he's been committed to prosecuting criminals seven days a week and said "my opponent hasn't done it for one minute of her life,"...

Later, McNamara-McGraw said she has had trial experience as a "vigorous" public defender and tried a case before a jury in 2005. "I would ask Mr. Chisholm, since he has so many opinions about my qualifications, when he tried his last case," McGraw said. As she continued, Chisholm interrupted saying that he tried a murder case one month ago, drawing cackling from the crowd. He interrupted again shortly after to say, "I got a guilty verdict, by the way."