On Point blog, page 36 of 104
Sex Offender Registration § 301.45 – Homeless Registrant
State v. William Dinkins, Sr., 2012 WI 24, affirming 2010 WI App 163; for Dinkins: Steven D. Phillips, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity; note: the court affirms the mandate (reversal of conviction and dismissal of charge), but “upon a different rationale,” ¶63; the net effect is, “affirmed, as modified“
Although homelessness is not in and of itself a defense to prosecution for failing to register as a sex offender,
“Anders” No-Merit Procedure (§ 809.32)
State v. Jeffery G. Sutton, 2012 WI 23, reversing summary order of court of appeals; for Sutton: Kaitlin A. Lamb, Colleen Ball, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; for amicus, WACDL: Robert R. Henak; case activity
Although presented with an unpreserved but seemingly meritorious issue (defective jury-waiver colloquy) on § 809.32 no-merit review, the court of appeals nonetheless accepted counsel’s no-merit report, thereby affirming Sutton’s conviction, and instructed him to seek relief pursuant to § 974.06 even though he was no longer in custody and the remedy was thus illusory.
Judicial Estoppel – Generally
State v. Basil E. Ryan, Jr., 2012 WI 16, reversing 2011 WI App 21; case activity
¶32 We begin by addressing the circuit court’s application of the equitable doctrine of judicial estoppel. Judicial estoppel is intended “to protect against a litigant playing ‘fast and loose with the courts’ by asserting inconsistent positions” in different legal proceedings. State v. Petty,
Probation – Length of Term, Authority to Reduce
State v. Carl L. Dowdy, 2012 WI 12, affirming 2010 WI App 58; for Dowdy: Bryan J. Cahill; Amicus: Dustin Haskell (SPD), Robert Henak (WACDL); case activity
¶4 We conclude that Wis. Stat. § 973.09(3)(a) does not grant a circuit court authority to reduce the length of probation. Rather, the plain language of § 973.09(3)(a) grants a circuit court authority only to “extend probation for a stated period”
Juror Bias / Disqualification – Waiver of Issue: Use of Peremptory to Remove Juror
State v. Sharon A. Sellhausen, 2012 WI 5, reversing 2010 WI App 175; for Sellhausen: Byron C. Lichstein; case activity
The trial judge’s daughter-in-law was part of the jury pool; Sellhausen didn’t seek her removal for cause, but used a peremptory to strike her, which rendered harmless any possible error in the trial judge sua sponte failing to remove the juror for cause.
Fleeing, Elements: “Willful or Wanton Disregard”; Evidence – Character Trait of “Victim,” § 904.04(1)(b)
State v. Daniel H. Hanson, 2012 WI 4, affirming 2010 WI App 146; for Hanson: Robert R. Henak, Chad Lanning; case activity
Fleeing, § 346.04(3) – Elements: “Willful or Wanton Disregard”
Fleeing does not require “an evil or malicious state of mind” when disregarding an officer’s signal:
¶22 In Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), “willful” modifies “disregard.” In that context,
Probable Cause – PBT
State v. Jason E. Goss, 2011 WI 104, affirming court of appeals summary order; for Goss: Daniel J. Chapman; case activity
¶2 We are asked to determine whether the officer’s request for the PBT breath sample was made in violation of Wis. Stat. § 343.303, which states that an officer “may request” a PBT breath sample “[i]f a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the person is violating or has violated s.
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.
Monetary Sanction, Appendix- Content Certification Rule
In the Matter of Sanctions in: State v. Gregory K. Nielsen, 2011 WI 94, remanding sanctions order; for State Public Defender: Joseph N. Ehmann; case activity; subsequent history: sanction re-imposed on remand
Monetary sanction summarily ordered by court of appeals against appellate counsel for allegedly violating appendix-content rule reversed, with following “suggestion” for procedure to be followed in such situations:
¶5 Considering the interests of the court of appeals,
SVP – Supervised Release Procedure
State v. Edwin Clarence West, 2011 WI 83, affirming unpublished opinion; for West: Ellen Henak, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; case activity [Companion case: State v. Nordberg, 2011 WI 84 (same result, controlled by West).]
Someone under ch. 980 commitment as a sexually violent person bears the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence the criteria for granting supervised release under § 980.08(4)(cg),