On Point

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Defense Win! COA reverses protective placement order on sufficiency and hearsay challenges

Brown County v. K.B., 2024AP1843, District III, 9/16/25 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

COA agrees with “Kathy” that the county failed to present sufficient evidence establishing that she is in continuing need of protective placement, and reverses the ch. 55 order.

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Eastern District holds that a police ruse defeats voluntary consent to search

United States v. Jose Angel Hernandez-Pineda, 25-CR-64 (E.D. Wis. 8/25/25).

In an interesting Fourth Amendment case, the Eastern District holds that officers violated Hernandez-Peneda’s Fourth Amendment rights when they searched his apartment without a warrant and without his voluntary consent.

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COA: Circuit court properly exercised its discretion in its evidentiary rulings at trial on grounds to terminate parental rights.

State v. D.J., 2025AP1334 and 1335, 9/16/25, District I (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

Over the respondent’s evidentiary objections, the COA affirmed the circuit court’s orders terminating D.J.’s parental rights to two of her children.

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COA, bound by precedent, rejects constitutional challenge involving mandatory minimum CSA charges

State v. Keith Kenyon, 2022AP2228-CR, 9/16/25, District I (recommended for publication); case activity

Although COA is surprisingly candid in acknowledging some of the injustices present in this appeal, the Court ultimately concludes that Kenyon’s constitutional challenge is foreclosed by existing precedent.

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Press Releases

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SPD Statement on Bill LRB-0779

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Tom Reed Retires from SPD After More Than 40 Years of Service

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Gina Pruski Presented with 2024 Lifetime of Service Award

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Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office Announces 2024 Award Recipients

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