On Point blog, page 1 of 6
Defense win: COA holds that waiver of right to counsel not knowing, intelligent or voluntary
State v. Jasmine C. Daniels, 2025AP74-CR, 3/31/26, District I (not recommended for publication); case activity
In a citable opinion, COA issues a rare defense win, finding the circuit court’s findings of fact clearly erroneous.
SCOW issues powerful decision relevant to juveniles interrogated at school but denies relief under harmless error analysis
State v. K.R.C., 2026 WI 10, 3/26/26, reversing an unpublished decision of the court of appeals; case activity
While SCOW denies relief to K.R.C., it issues a strongly worded decision that will help vindicate the constitutional rights of children interacting with school resource officers on campus.
SCOW accepts review of important CHIPS case
S.G. v. Wisconsin DCF & Waupaca County, 2024AP472, petition for review of a published decision of the court of appeals, granted 3/11/26
In a case that will impact an important procedural aspect of certain CHIPS cases, SCOW accepts review of Waupaca County’s petition seeking to reverse (something of) a defense win.
In decision recommended for publication, COA approves use of “readers” at preliminary hearings
State v. Latres Christopher Robinson, 2025AP983-CR, 3/12/26, District IV (recommended for publication); case activity
In a decision resolving an issue which has been percolating since SCOW’s decision in O’Brien over a decade ago, COA approves the practice of calling an investigator to read the criminal complaint into the record in order to satisfy the preliminary hearing requirement.
COA rejects challenges to TPR dispositional order and affirms
Jefferson County DHS v. G.J.J., 2025AP2491, 3/5/26, District IV (ineligible for publication); case activity
While G.J.J. gets closer than most–and his arguments even give COA “pause”–ultimately, the deferential standard of review applicable to dispositional decisions results in affirmance.
SCOW holds that ESP was not acting as government agent when it scanned files for CSAM
State v. Andreas W. Rauch-Sharak, 2026 WI 4, 2/24/26, on certification from the court of appeals; case activity
SCOW holds that Google’s search of Rauch-Sharak’s files was a private search, slightly clarifies that legal test, and affirms.
Defense win: COA upholds jury’s verdict in favor of TPR respondent
J.R.P. v. W.P.M., 2024AP1535, 2/19/26, District IV (ineligible for publication); case activity
In a rare sufficiency challenge pursued by the petitioner, COA applies a deferential standard of review and affirms.
COA finds there was sufficient evidence of obstructing and affirms
State v. Kyle R. Appel, 2023AP2083-CR, 2/17/26, District III (ineligible for publication); case activity
Applying a standard of review exceptionally deferential to a jury’s decision to convict, COA distinguishes Appel’s proffered authority and affirms.
COA rejects challenge to TPR dispositional order and affirms
State v. L.Z., 2025AP2731-32, 2/17/26, District I (ineligible for publication); case activity
Although L.Z. tries to capitalize on certain statements in the court’s oral ruling as giving a foothold for her appellate challenge, the standard of review means the argument attacking a discretionary decision goes nowhere.
COA rejects challenges to discretionary restitution order and affirms
State v. Tate H. Batson, 2025AP136-CR, 2/12/26, District IV (ineligible for publication); case activity
Although Batson tries his best to poke holes in the judge’s discretionary decision, the deferential standard of review means those arguments uniformly fail.