On Point blog, page 3 of 6
Search Warrants: Court Commissioner Authority to Issue
State v. Douglas Meier Williams, 2012 WI 59, on review of court of appeals certification request; for Williams: Stephen P. Hurley, Dean A. Strang, Marcus J. Berghahn, Jonas B. Bednarek; case activity
Wis. Stat. § 757.69(1)(b), giving circuit court commissioners authority to issue search warrants, is constitutional.
¶3 Throughout Wisconsin’s history, including before the ratification of the Wisconsin Constitution, non-judges have been authorized by statute to issue search warrants.
State v. Demone Alexander, 2011AP394-CR, District 1, 5/8/12, WSC rev granted 11/14/12
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication), supreme court review granted 11/14/12; for Alexander: Hans P. Koesser; case activity
Juror Selection / Dismissal – Right to Personal Presence
A defendant has a non-waivable right to personal presence at voir dire, ¶6 (citing, § 971.04(1)(c); and, State v. Harris, 229 Wis. 2d 832, 839, 601 N.W.2d 682 (Ct.
Payton v. New York Violation (Unlawful Entry of Residence, but with Probable Cause) and New York v. Harris Attenuation Doctrine
State v. Devin W. Felix, 2012 WI 36, reversing unpublished decision; for Felix: Leonard D. Kachinsky; case activity
Under Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573 (1980), warrantless arrest following nonconsensual entry of a home is illegal unless supported by probable cause and exigent circumstances. However, New York v. Harris,
Discovery Violation – Harmless Error; Defendant’s Right not to Testify – Evidentiary Hearing
State v. Daniel E. Krueger, 2011AP571-CR, District 3, 8/2/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Krueger: Ana Lyn Babcock; case activity
Prosecutorial failure to disclose a police report containing his statements that “were incriminating and any reasonable prosecutor would have planned on using them at trial” violated Krueger’s right to discovery, ¶23, citing State v. DeLao, 2002 WI 49,
State v. Douglas M. Williams, 2010AP1551-CR, District 4, 7/14/11
certification; for Williams: Jonas B. Bednarek; case activity; review granted, 8/31/11
Search Warrants: Court Commissioner Authority to Issue
We certify this appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide whether court commissioners have the power to issue search warrants. Although Wis. Stat. § 757.69(1)(b)[1] appears to grant that power to court commissioners, appellant Williams argues that the legislature may not confer that power by statute because the Wisconsin Constitution does not authorize the legislature to grant judicial powers to court commissioners.
Defendant’s Right (Not) to Testify
State v. Rickey R. Denson, 2011 WI 70, affirming unpublished summary order; for Denson: Donna Odrzywolski; case activity
¶8 A criminal defendant’s constitutional right not to testify is a fundamental right that must be waived knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. However, we conclude that circuit courts are not required to conduct an on-the-record colloquy to determine whether a defendant is knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waiving his or her right not to testify.
State v. Jon Anthony Soto, 2010AP2273, review granted, 6/15/11
on certification; for Soto: Shelley Fite, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity; prior post
Issues (composed by On Point):
Whether a defendant has a non-waivable right to be physically present at a §§ 971.04(1)(g) and 885.60.
If the right to physical presence at the plea proceeding can be waived or forfeited, whether a formal colloquy is nonetheless required before the defendant enters a plea via video conferencing.
Consent to Search: Co-Tenant; Counsel: Request for Substitute; Personal Presence: Forfeiture by Misconduct; Right to Testify: Waiver; Judicial Bias: Lapse in Decorum
State v. Calvin Jerome Pirtle, 2011 WI App 89(recommended for publication); for Pirtle: Christopher J. Cherella; case activity
Consent to Search – Georgia v. Randolph
Pirtle’s failure to object to the police presence allowed them to act on the co-tenant’s consent to a warrantless search under Georgia v. Randolph, 547 U.S. 103 (2006):
¶15 In Randolph,
State v. Rickey R. Denson, 2009AP694-CR, review granted 12/8/10
decision below: summary order; for Denson: Donna Odrzywolski; supreme court news release
Issues (from the news release):
- Should the constitutional right of a criminal defendant not to testify on his behalf and remain silent at trial be recognized as a fundamental right that can only be waived personally by the defendant with an on the record colloquy?
- Should the only appropriate remedy, for failure to engage in an on-the-record colloquy regarding the right not to testify at trial,
State v. Brad Forbush, 2008AP3007-CR, Wis SCt review granted 3/16/10
decision below: 2010 WI App 11; for Forbush: Craig Mastantuono; Rebecca M. Coffee
Issues:
Whether the right to counsel under the Wisconsin Constitution prohibits the state from interrogating a represented individual once the state is aware of the representation
Whether a suspect made an equivocal request for counsel during police questioning, thereby invoking his right to counsel under the Wisconsin Constitution and requiring suppression of his confession at trial
Whether the circuit court’s suppression order should be affirmed without reaching the viability of State v.