On Point blog, page 242 of 263
TPR – Judicial Bias
Walworth County DH&HS v. Roberta J. W., 2010AP2248, District 2, 6/22/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Roberta J.W.: Lora B. Cerone, SPD, Madison Appellate, case activity
By his overweening involvement in the trial process, evincing his prejudgment of the case and asking “countless questions of the witnesses” – to an extent that the GAL objected that “the judge was abusing his function and was not being fair to Roberta -,
Obstructing, § 946.41(1) – Sufficiency of Evidence; Effective Assistance – Prosecutor’s Closing Argument
State v. Keith A. Stich, 2010AP2849-CR, District 2, 6/22/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Stich: Andrew Joseph Burgoyne; case activity
Stich’s failure to heed an officer’s instruction to stop – instead, Stich walked away and into his house and encouraged his companion Lidbloom to do likewise – established the crime of obstructing. The police were investigating an earlier incident, and “Stich’s actions, which delayed the deputies’ ability to question Lidbloom,
Arrest – Fresh Pursuit / Citizen’s Arrest
State v. Blair T. Davis, 2011AP320,District 2, 6/22/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Davis: Daniel J. Posanski; case activity
Arrest by campus policeman, outside his jurisdiction, was justifiable under either citizen’s arrest, or fresh pursuit, doctrines.
¶5 The fresh pursuit doctrine states that any Wisconsin peace officer may pursue and arrest a suspect “anywhere in the state” for a violation of any law or ordinance that the officer is authorized to enforce as long as the officer is in “fresh pursuit.” Wis.
IAC – Prejudice
State v. Leroy M. Godard, 2010AP1731-CR, District 2, 6/22/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Godard: Rick B. Meier; case activity
Counsel’s failure to listen to police recordings of the interrogations of Godard’s accomplices, even if deficient, wasn’t prejudicial.
¶15 The postconviction motion hearing testimony shows that Godard’s case was not weakened without the line of questioning from the recordings. At trial,
SVP – Sexually Motivated Offense; Admissibility, No-Contest Plea; Expert Opinion – Reliance on Hearsay
State v. Albert M. Virsnieks, 2010AP1967, District 2 / 1, 6/21/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); pro se; case activity
Virsnieks’ plea-based conviction for burglary supported ch. 980 commitment.
¶35 A Wis. Stat. ch. 980 petition must allege, among other things, that a “person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense.”[5] Wis. Stat. § 980.02(2)(a)1. A “[s]exually violent offense” is defined,
Probable Cause to Arrest, OWI
State v. Omar F. Ofarril-Valez, 2010AP3109-CR, District 1, 6/21/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Ofarril-Velez: Dustin C. Haskell, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; case activity
The court marshals “nine indicia of impairment” to support its conclusion of probable cause to arrest: time (2:30 a.m.); driving 3-4 miles over posted limit; “light odor” of alcohol; admission of drinking 1 beer; glassy eyes; difficulty complying with instructions;
TPR -Statutory Construction – “Reasonable Time to Prepare” for Dispositional Hearing
State v. Beverly H., 2011AP536, District 1, 6/21/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Beverly H.: Jeffrey W. Jensen; case activity
The trial court didn’t err in denying the parent’s request for an adjournment of dispositional hearing, following jury verdict finding grounds to terminate. The court of appeals rejects the argument that § 48.31(7)(a) controls the issue.
¶2 This Court disagrees with Beverly H.’s arguments on appeal.
TPR – IAC Claim; Request for Substitute Counsel; Request for Self-Representation
Sheboygan County DH&HS v. Wesley M., No. 2010AP2946, District 2, 6/15/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Wesley M.: Leonard D. Kachinsky; case activity
¶7 A parent is entitled to the effective assistance of counsel in termination of parental rights proceedings, and the applicable standards are those which apply in criminal cases. See A.S. v. State, 168 Wis.
Delinquency – Possession of Non-Narcotic Controlled Substance (Adderall)
State v. Anthony M. S., 2010AP1669, District 4, 6/9/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Anthony M.S.: Shelley Fite, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
The State sought to prove that the pills Anthony M.S. possessed were a non-narcotic controlled substance (Adderall), § 961.41(3g), through the testimony of the Osseo Police Chief that the website Drugs.com established the pills’ identity. The trial court found Anthony M.S.
TPR – Testimony in Support of Petition, § 48.422(3)
Dane Co. DHS v. Jennifer F., 2011AP530, District 4, 6/9/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Jennifer F.: Paul G. LaZotte, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Although the trial court erred in not taking testimony in support of no-contest pleas to the TPR petition as required by § 48.422(3) (see Waukesha County v. Steven H., 2000 WI 28, ¶56, 233 Wis.