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On Point is a judicial analysis blog written by members of the Wisconsin State Public Defenders. It includes cases from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of Wisconsin, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Plea bargain breach by prosecutor — negative allocution

State v. Aaron L. Wood, 2013 WI App 88; case activity The state did not breach the plea agreement where the prosecutor, after making the agreed-upon recommendation, expressed alarm and concern at what he discovered in the PSI after the plea agreement was made and referred in his sentencing argument to the negative portions of the […]

Substitution of judge — § 971.20(4),(5); reassignment of original judge does not make the judge “new” for substitution purposes. Admission of evidence — limiting the playing of audio recordings. Armed robbery, § 943.32 — sufficiency of the evidence.

State v. Keith M. Bohannon, 2013 WI App 87; case activity Substitution of judge; “new” judge under § 971.20(5) When a case is reassigned from the original judge to a second judge and then reassigned again back to the first judge, the first judge is the “original” judge assigned to the case under § 971.20(4), not a “new” […]

Sex offender registration — court’s consideration of dismissed charges as part of exercise of discretion

State v. Christopher James Athas, 2012AP2151-CR, District 1, 6/11/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity The circuit court properly considered previous sexual assault charges that had been dismissed when it was deciding whether to order Athas to register as a sex offender after his conviction for fourth degree sexual assault: ¶3 […]

Disorderly conduct — sufficiency of the evidence

State v. Christina V., 2013AP405-FT, District 3, 6/11/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity The evidence was sufficient to support the trial court’s order adjudicating Christina delinquent of disorderly conduct despite the judge’s comments that what happened in the case was “somewhat of a guess” and that his conclusions were “[m]y […]

Request for maximum sentence by police officers who were also victims did not breach plea agreement

State v. London Mack Stewart, 2013 WI App 86; case activity Stewart was convicted of reckless injury, reckless endangerment, and felon in possession after he shot at and injured a police officer executing a warrant at a home where Stewart was staying. (¶2). Under the plea agreement the state agreed to recommend a “global” 25-year sentence […]

U.S. Supreme Court: Ex Post Facto Clause limits application of new federal sentencing guidelines

Marvin Peugh v. United States, USSC No. 12-62, 6/10/13 United States Supreme Court decision, reversing United States v. Peugh, 675 F.3d 736 (7th Cir. 2012) Resolving a split between federal circuit courts, the Supreme Court holds that a sentencing court violates the Ex Post Facto Clause by using the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines in effect at the […]

U.S. Supreme Court upholds collection of DNA from persons arrested for “serious” crimes

Maryland v. King, USSC No. 12-207, 6/3/13 United States Supreme Court decision, reversing King v. State, 425 Md. 550, 42 A.3d 549 (2012) In a decision validating the collection of DNA from at least some persons before they are even convicted of a crime, a divided Supreme Court has concluded that when officers make an arrest supported […]

More on McNeely and blood draws

The United States Supreme Court’s decision in Missouri v. McNeely marked a big change for Wisconsin.  Click here for On Point’s analysis of the case.  If you’re yearning for more information on what McNeely means for Wisconsin OWI cases, you might want to watch this half-hour program on Wisconsin Eye.  It features Dane County Judge […]

Steve P. v. Maegan F., 2011AP2887, petition for review granted 5/29/13

Review of unpublished court of appeals decision; case activity Issue (composed by On Point): Should the Wisconsin Supreme Court modify the legal standard to be applied in third-party guardianship actions under Chapter 54 so as to require circuit courts to consider the best interests of the child? Currently, a trial court may transfer custody of […]

TPR — Effective assistance of counsel at fact-finding hearing

Jenna L.C. v. Dustin J.K.V., 2012AP2696, District 2, 5/29/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity The court of appeals rejects Dustin’s claim that his attorney was ineffective at the fact-finding hearing on a TPR petition alleging he had failed to assume parental responsibility for his daughter, Breyanna. Trial counsel did not […]

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On Point provides information (not legal advice) about important developments in the law. Please note that this information may not be up to date. Viewing this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Wisconsin State Public Defender. Readers should consult an attorney for their legal needs.