On Point blog, page 22 of 32

Ineffective Assistance – Failure to Impeach

State v. Ralph S. Stewart, 2011AP1424-CR, District 1, 5/15/12

court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Stewart: Byron C. Lichstein; case activity

Counsel’s failure to impeach police officers, with their own reported statements, was deficient:

¶17      While matters of trial strategy are generally left to counsel’s professional judgment, counsel may be found ineffective if the strategy was objectively unreasonable.  See State v.

Read full article >

IAC Claim – Evidence of Flight

State v. Herbert Ambrose Darden, 2011AP883-CR, District 4, 5/3/12

court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Darden: Angela Conrad Kachelski; case activity

Trial counsel correctly construed the holding of State v. Miller, 231 Wis. 2d 447, 460, 605 N.W.2d 567 (Ct. App. 1999):

¶16      This is not the first time that we have been asked to determine whether or not Miller created a bright-line rule that evidence of flight is inadmissible if there is an independent explanation for the flight that cannot be explained to the jury.  

Read full article >

Effective assistance of counsel; Sexual assault of child ; Sentencing – discretion

State v. Thaying Lor, 2011AP2019-CR, District 1, 5/1/12

court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Lor: Benjamin F. Gallagher; case activity

Effective Assistance of Counsel 

Counsel did not provide ineffective representation in the following respects:

  • Failure to timely file motion seeking admission of complainant’s prior untruthful allegation of sexual assault. However, Lor did not provide, including in his postconviction motion,
Read full article >

Roselva Chaidez v. United States, USSC No. 11-820, cert granted 4/30/12

Question Presented (from cert petition): 

In Padilla v. Kentucky, 130 S. Ct. 1473 (2010), this Court held that criminal defendants receive ineffective assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment when their attorneys fail to advise them that pleading guilty to an offense will subject them to deportation. The question presented is whether Padilla applies to persons whose convictions became final before its announcement.

Read full article >

Counsel – Effective Assistance – Plea Bargaining – Prejudice: After Trial

Lafler v. Anthony Cooper, USSC No. 10-209, 3/21/12, vacating and remanding, 376 Fed. Appx. 563 (6th Cir. 2010); prior post; companion case: Missouri v. Frye, 10-444

Cooper turned down a favorable plea bargain and instead went to trial, after his attorney erroneously told him the prosecution would be unable to establish intent to kill because the victim had been shot below the waist.

Read full article >

TPR – Jury Instructions: Waiver of Issue; Ineffective Assistance

Heather T. C. v. Donald M. H., 2010AP467, District 2, 2/1/12

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Donald: Thomas K. Voss; case activity

Failure to object at trial waived appellate challenge to jury instructions and verdict form that combined two separate periods of abandonment as grounds for termination.

 ¶6        Failure to object to proposed jury instructions or verdicts at the instruction and verdict conference constitutes waiver of any error in the instructions or verdicts.  

Read full article >

Evidence: Prior Inconsistent Statements- “State of Mind” Hearsay; Harmless Error / IAC-Prejudice

State v. Anthony L. Prineas, 2012 WI App 2 (recommended for publication), reissued after initial decision withdrawn; for Prineas: Robert R. Henak; case activity; prior historyState v. Prineas, 2009 WI App 28, 316 Wis. 2d 414, 766 NW.2d 206

Evidence – Prior Inconsistent Statements 

Evidence of complainant KAC’s statements made during an alleged sexual assault were admissible as prior inconsistent statements,

Read full article >

Effective Assistance – OWI-Causing Injury; Cross-Examination; Presentation of Defense

State v. Tijuan L. Walker, 2010AP2587-CR, District 1, 11/29/11

court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Walker: Matthew S. Pinix; case activity

Walker was tried for and convicted of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle, § 940.25(1)(a), after his car collided with DeAnn Braggs’. A form accompanying the post-accident test kit containing Braggs’ blood (which had little or no alcohol content) noted that the vials of blood were labeled “Walker,

Read full article >

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Deficient Performance but non-Prejudicial

State v. David W. Domke, 2011 WI 95, reversing unpublished decision; for Domke: Martha K. Askins, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity

Although Domke establishes deficient performance in several different respects, he fails to satisfy his burden of showing prejudice.

  • Failure to object to hearsay testimony / medical treatment and diagnosis exception inapplicable to counselors and social workers.
Read full article >

Postconviction Proceedings – Expiration of Deadline for Ruling; Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Voir Dire – Juror Bias

State v. Edward Beck, 2010AP872-CR, District 4, 10/20/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); pro se; case activity

Circuit court is under no obligation to seek extension of the § 809.30(2) limitation period for its ruling on a postconviction motion.

¶6        Beck reads too much into the 2001 amendment to Wis. Stat. § 809.30(2)(i).  The amendment simply added language to § 809.30(2)(i) specifying the entities that may request an extension,

Read full article >