On Point blog, page 1 of 217
In decision recommended for publication, COA holds that investigating criminal record of a passenger is part of traffic stop “mission”
State v. Erik Howard Pantle, 2025AP2003-CR, 10/14/26, District II (recommended for publication); case activity
In a decision recommended for publication, COA reiterates that a dog sniff is not a search and that police do not unreasonably prolong a traffic stop by running a record check on the passengers in the car.
COA holds that trial attorney had no duty to ensure his client reviewed video evidence before pleading guilty
State v. Corey L. Gransberry, 2025AP1770-CR, 9/9/26, District I (recommended for publication); case activity
Although Gransberry tries to develop a novel ineffectiveness claim, COA rejects his arguments based on an alleged failure to review certain evidence and affirms.
COA issues 2nd Amendment decision on gun rights of foster parents
Brian Lafferty and Katie Lafferty v. Jeff Pertl and Julie Driscoll, 2025AP414, 7/31/26, District II (recommended for publication); case activity
In one of the first published Wisconsin cases to apply SCOTUS’s evolving precedent on firearm possession, COA holds that at least some regulations placed on foster parents to limit access to firearms went too far.
COA grants sentence credit claim in authored decision
State v. Matthew Guy O’Dierno, 2025AP1327, 8/6/26, District IV (not recommended for publication); case activity
COA holds that O’Dierno is entitled to sentence credit on new charges for his entire period of pretrial jail custody when a portion of the time was also spent completing a conditional jail sentence.
COA reverses sentencing court’s order de facto terminating defendant’s parental rights
State v. Dominic L. Brister, 2024AP1516-CR, 6/30/26, District I (recommended for publication); case activity
COA issues a broad defense win, holding that the First Amendment forbids the extreme no-contact order entered in this case.
COA, in published decision, further clarifies that not every plea colloquy defect merits a Bangert hearing
State v. Terral Dontae Wallace, 2024AP2150-CR, 6/23/26, District III (recommended for publication); errata issued and revised opinion issued 8/13/26; case activity
Although there is no dispute that the circuit court failed to advise Wallace of a presumptive minimum sentence during the plea colloquy, the court of appeals determines that no evidentiary hearing is required and affirms.
COA affirms convictions for election fraud and misconduct in public office by Milwaukee Election Commission’s deputy director.
State v. Kimberly D. Zapata, 2025AP425-CR, 5/12/26, District I (recommended for publication); case activity
The Deputy Director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission was convicted at trial of election fraud and misconduct in public office after she had fictitious military absentee ballots sent to a state legislator to publicize the potential for election fraud with such ballots. In a decision recommended for publication, the COA affirmed her convictions because the evidence was sufficient for the jury to find she “obtained” the ballots for purposes of election fraud and acted in her public capacity.
Catching up on COA’s publication orders
Without further ado, here are COA’s publication orders for the last several months:
COA interprets deferred judgment agreement and finds State was permitted to move to revoke outside of deferral period
State of Wisconsin v. Derrick John Grignon, 2024AP1595-CR, 4/28/26, District III (recommended for publication); case activity
In a decision recommended for publication, COA applies contract law principles to a deferred judgment agreement and finds that the State properly moved to revoke the agreement following Grignon’s noncompliance with its terms.
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.