On Point blog, page 10 of 49

COA holds that defendant’s misunderstanding about guilty plea waiver rule does not entitle him to plea withdrawal

State v. Matthew Robert Mayotte, 2022AP1695, 1/23/24, District 3 (not recommended for publication); case activity (including briefs)

Given the state of the postconviction record and COA’s narrow reading of precedent, Mayotte fails to establish he is entitled to plea withdrawal given his misunderstanding of the consequences of his Alford plea.

Read full article >

COA rejects novel discovery claim and other challenges to child pornography conviction

State v. Jacob Richard Beyer, 2022AP2051, 1/11/24, District 4 (not recommended for publication); case activity (including briefs)

Although Beyer labors mightily at conjuring up legal arguments for reversal, COA is uniformly unpersuaded and unimpressed by his arguments and affirms.

Read full article >

COA rejects challenge to circuit court’s discretionary termination order

Sheboygan County DHHS v. J.L., 2023AP1884, 1/3/24, District 2 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

In yet another appeal of the circuit court’s discretionary decision to terminate a parent’s rights, COA easily rejects J.L.’s invitation to reweigh the evidence.

Read full article >

Circuit court reasonably ordered defendant to refrain from owning a business or working as a general contractor while on probation

State v. Theodore J. Polczynski, 2023AP900, 1/3/24, District 2 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity (including briefs)

COA upholds the circuit court’s order barring Polczynski from owning a business or operating as a general contractor as conditions of probation by finding they are reasonable and appropriate under the facts of this case.

Read full article >

COA rejects novel plea withdrawal claim in TPR; finds evidence sufficient dad didn’t comply with CHIPS conditions

State v. D.K., 2023AP292-293, 1/3/24, District I (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

Despite a novel challenge as to the integrity of his plea, COA rejects “Daniel’s” arguments and affirms in this TPR appeal.

Read full article >

COA rejects important competency challenge in protective placement appeal as a result of litigant’s failure to object below

Douglas County v. M.L, 2022AP141, 12/28/23, District III (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

Faced with a challenge to the circuit court’s competency in this protective placement appeal, COA holds that the appellant has forfeited his challenge and therefore affirms.

Read full article >

COA reverses in another D.J.W. win for failure to make specific factual findings

Winnebago County v. A.P.D., 2023AP863, 12/13/23, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

In yet another defense win reliant on Langlade County v. D.J.W.,  COA holds that the circuit court failed to make adequate findings in this Chapter 51 appeal.

Read full article >

COA rejects argument that margin of error undermined sufficiency of evidence for PAC conviction

Columbia County v. Carter Ray Smits, 2023AP241, 12/7/23, District IV (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

Despite the analyst’s testimony that, given the margin of error for the lab result, it was “equally likely” Smits was under as opposed to over the legal limit, COA affirms.

Read full article >

COA rejects sufficiency and erroneous exercise of discretion challenges in TPR appeal

State v. M.E.E., 2023AP1510, 11/28/23, District I (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

In a dense and fact-dependent opinion, COA affirms under well-settled standards of review.

Read full article >

COA rejects kitchen sink approach in appeal of multi-child TPR

State v. T.J., 2023AP1239-1242, 11/28/23, District I (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity

Despite  a battery of legal challenges, COA swiftly and efficiently marches toward affirmance in this TPR appeal.

Read full article >