On Point blog, page 298 of 484
TPR – Sufficiency of Evidence; Oral Instructions: Timing; Counsel – Presence, Return of Verdict
Kevin G. v. Jennifer M. S., 2009AP1377, District 4, 8/17/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Jennifer M.S.: Susan E. Alesia, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Evidence held sufficient to support termination for failure to assume parental responsibility, § 48.415(6)(a), applying “totality-of-the-circumstances test” where “the fact-finder should consider any support or care, or lack thereof, the parent provided the child throughout the child’s entire life,” Tammy W-G.
Confrontation – Chain of Custody, Lab Test
State v. Richard Dean Boyer, 2011AP305-CR, District 1, 8/16/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Boyer: Walter Arthur Piel, Jr.; case activity
OWI trial, where the chemist who analyzed the blood sample testified, but the person who drew the sample didn’t: the court rejects Boyer’s argument that his right to confrontation was violated by his inability to cross-examine the person who drew the blood.
Guilty Plea Procedure – Defendant’s Denial of Element; Plea-Withdrawal – Manifest Injustice
State v. Lee Roy Cain, 2010AP1599-CR, District 4, 8/11/11, affirmed, 2012 WI 68
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication), affirmed, 2012 WI 68; case activity
If, during a (non-Alford) guilty plea colloquy, the defendant denies the existence of an element of the charged the offense, the court must refuse to accept the plea:
¶28 However,
OWI – Habitual – Collateral Attack
State v. Jonathan M. Reynolds, 2011AP512-CR, District 4, 8/11/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Reynolds: Steven Cohen; case activity
Reynolds collateral attack on a prior OWI conviction (on the ground waiver of counsel was ineffectual because he didn’t know the potential range of penalties) is rejected. Basic procedure discussed and applied, ¶8.
¶11 Reynolds testified that although he received a copy of the complaint,
TPR – Grounds – Impossible Conditions
Dane Co. DHS v. Porfirio O. / Minerva L., 2011AP1247 et al., District 4, 8/11/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Porfirio O.: Dennis Schertz; for Minvera L.: Steven Zaleski; case activity (Porfirio); case activity (Minerva)
The parents did not meet their burden of showing factual dispute as to whether their incarceration was the sole reason they were unable to meet conditions for return of the children under CHIPS orders,
TPR – Appearance by Telephone
Kenosha County DHS v. Amber D., 2011AP562, District 2, 8/10/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Amber D.: Thomas K. Voss; case activity
Timothy M.’s appearance by telephone, occasioned by his incarceration, didn’t violate his due process right to meaningfully participate in TPR proceedings, Waukesha Cnty. DHHS v. Teodoro E., 2008 WI App 16, ¶10, 307 Wis. 2d 372,
Search & Seizure: GPS Device – Warrant
State v. James G. Brereton, 2011 WI App 127 (recommended for publication); for Brereton: Matthew S. Pinix; case activity
After lawfully stopping Brereton, the police removed him from his car, towed it to a lot and then, after obtaining a warrant, attached a GPS tracking device. Ensuing monitoring led to information connecting Brereton to a crime. The court holds as follows:
- Fourth amendment concerns are implicated because the tracking device was placed inside the hood while the vehicle was in police possession and out of public view,¶8,
TPR – IAC
Kimberly A. v. Charles B., 2011AP129, District 3, 8/4/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Charles B.: Leonard D. Kachinsky; case activity
Counsel’s strategic decision not to voir dire jurors about what they may have heard during a heated sidebar discussion, and instead to request a limiting instruction to disregard anything they may have overheard, wasn’t deficient performance, ¶12. Nor was it prejudicial, given that he “offers no evidence,
TPR – Competence of Court to Enter Order; IAC; Parental Unfitness – Sufficient Evidence
State v. Francine T., 2010AP3140 / State v. Emilano M., 2010AP2596, District 1, 8/3/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Francine T.: Theresa J. Schmieder; for Emilano M.: Brian C. Findley; case activity
¶17 Francine and Emiliano argue that the trial court lacked competence [5] to enter the June 2, 2010 TPR order because it did not have competence to enter
the January 31,
Prosecutorial Misconduct – Closing Argument – Harmless Error
State v. Richard K. Numrich, 2010AP1544-CR, District 2, 8/3/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Numrich: Chad A. Lanning; case activity
Instances of prosecutorial misconduct (objecting in the jury’s presence to a line of questioning that implied the existence of inadmissible evidence; stating in closing argument that it is defense counsel’s “job to create doubt”) warranted neither mistrial, ¶¶15-16 (especially in light of curative instruction);