On Point: Uncategorized

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.

Winnebago County v. T.R.A., 2025AP2428, 6/24/26, District II (ineligible for publication); case activity

COA rejects T.R.A.’s reading of the statutory requirements, finds ample evidence of dangerousness, and affirms. 

Due to some IT issues, we’ve gone dark these last few weeks. Don’t worry–we’ve been caching posts for when we recovered access. Posts will be coming out fast and furious given the pace of decisions throughout our appellate courts, so keep an eye out here for new developments!

State  v. I.T.S., 2025AP2517, 6/17/26, District II (ineligible for publication); case activity

Although I.T.S. argues that his writings composed during an in-school suspension were private and not true threats for the purposes of the First Amendment, COA affirms.

Yacoub v. St. Croix County, 2023AP758, 759, 760, 761 & 762, 5/27/26, District III (ineligible for publication) case activity.

COA affirms judgment requiring Attorney Sarah Yacoub to pay $4,663.03 in costs and attorney fees as a remedial sanction after the circuit court found her in contempt for intentionally disclosing confidential information from 5 CHIPS cases.

State v. Samuel R. Osornio, 2024AP2368-CR, petition for review of a published court of appeals decision, granted 5/20/26; case activity

This is a Len Bias case in which the COA granted a new trial on the basis that Osornio showed there was at least a reasonable probability that he would not have been convicted of reckless homicide if the jury had been properly instructed from the start. SCOW will determine the burden of proof and whether COA diluted the reasonable probability standard for the prejudice prong of Osornio’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

The last several months brought some interesting cases, including several non-Wisconsin habeas appeals, a Wisconsin-originating challenge to a law criminalizing the possession of a firearm by a felon, the distinction between “l” and “d” meth, a few Fourth Amendment issues and some Wisconsin-originating § 1983 claims that might be interesting to at least some of our readers.

Brown County Health &Human Services v. J.L., 2026AP176, 5/1/26, District III (ineligible for publication); case activity

“Julie” challenges the circuit court’s exercise of discretion at disposition as to two factors of consideration. However, the deferential standard of review applicable to dispositional decisions results in affirmance.

D.C. v. R.W., USSC No. 25-248, 2/25/2025, reversing In re R.W., 334 A.3d 593 (D.C. 2025); Scotusblog page (with links to briefs)

SCOTUS reverses DC Court of Appeals decision that an officer stopped R.W. without reasonable suspicion and in violation of the Fourth Amendment based on the totality of the circumstances.

OLR v. Osman A Mirza, 2023AP2369-D, 4/15/26, per curiam decision of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (in its disciplinary capacity).

In a decision that demonstrates the overlap between the criminal justice and OLR disciplinary systems, SCOW’s decision to revoke this lawyer’s license for engaging in a pattern of domestic violence triggers a 4-3 split.