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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.
Appellate Procedure: Waived Objection to Jury Instruction; Inaccuracy in Witness’s Accurate Criminal Record: Harmless Error; Defendant’s Right Not to Testify: Retrospective Hearing – State Satisfied Burden of Proof
State v. Joel Joseph Lobermeier, 2012 WI App 77 (recommended for publication); for Lobermeier: Andrea Taylor Cornwall, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; case activity
Appellate Procedure – Waiver – Jury Instructions
Failure to object to a jury instruction amounts to a failure to preserve for review an asserted objection, which must therefore be reviewed in the context of ineffective assistance of counsel. Nonetheless, failure to object to a “material variance”
Felon-in-Possession, § 941.29 – Constitutionality
State v. Daniel Lee Rueden, Jr., 2011AP001034-CR, District 4, 6/7/12
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Rueden: Eileen A. Hirsch, Kaitlin A. Lamb, SPD; case activity
Felon-in-possession, § 941.29, is not unconstitutional either facially or as applied in this instance; State v. Pocian, 2012 WI App 58, deemed controlling.
¶6 We need not discuss the specifics of Rueden’s facial and as-applied challenges because,
Appellate Jurisdiction
State v. Alexander Velazquez-Perez, 2010AP001128-CR, District 1/4, 6/7/12
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Velazquez-Perez: David Leeper; case activity
The court of appeals has authority to extend the deadline for filing a postconviction motion; Velazquez-Perez filed his motion within the deadline as extended by the court of appeals, and jurisdiction attached over appeal of the subsequent denial:
¶19 We conclude we have jurisdiction over the plea withdrawal court’s May 2,
Competence of Court – Guardianship
MaryBeth Lipp v. Outagamie County Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2011AP152, District 3, 6/5/12
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity
Failure to decide a guardianship petition within the statutorily mandated 90 days of filing (§ 54.44(1)) caused the trial court to lose competency to proceed. Lack of objection didn’t waive the issue, ¶¶11-12, citing Village of Trempealeau v. Mikrut,
Ineffective Assistance of Reconfinement Counsel: Duty to Correct Misleading DOC Summary
State v. Wayne P. Harris, 2012 wI App 79(recommended for publication); for Harris: Attorney Gary Grass; case activity
We know that “[a] defendant has a due process right to be sentenced based on accurate information.” See State v. Tiepelman, 2006 WI 66, ¶9, 291 Wis. 2d 179, 717 N.W.2d 1 But what happens when the sentencing court relies upon a DOC-prepared revocation summary that is “technically true but misleading” or that is “written in a way that that invite[s] the court to draw negative inferences”?
Chunon L. Bailey v. U.S., USSC No. 11-770, cert granted 6/4/12
Question Presented (from cert petition):
Whether, pursuant to Michigan v. Summers, 452 U.S. 692 (1981), police officers may detain an individual incident to the execution of a search warrant when the individual has left the immediate vicinity of the premises before the warrant is executed.
Lower court decision (652 F.3d 197 2nd Cir 2011)
Police getting ready to execute a search warrant saw Bailey leave the residence,
James Harris v. Hardy, 7th Cir No. 10-1434, 5/23/12
seventh circuit court of appeals decision
Habeas Review – Batson Claim
The State’s pattern of peremptory strikes – at least 15, possibly 17, out of 20, directed at African-Americans – was so “disproportionate” as to “give[] rise to an inference of discrimination.” This is so, despite Harris limiting his challenges to 9 of these 17 strikes: “that does not make the pattern of strikes any less probative.” The strongly deferential nature of habeas review notwithstanding,
Mental Commitment – Involuntary Medication
Green County v. Janeen J. C., 2011AP2603, District 4, 5/31/12
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not publishable); for Janeen J.C.: Katie R. York, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
The trial court, before entering an involuntary medication order, failed to make requisite findings that Janeen J.C. wasn’t competent to make an informed choice, Virgil D. v. Rock County, 189 Wis. 2d 1,
Double Jeopardy – Retrial after Mistrial
State v. Susan M. Thorstad, 2011AP2854-CR, District 4, 5/31/12
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not publishable); for Thorstad: Charles W. Giesen; case activity
Mistrial was granted after the arresting officer, in contravention of pretrial order, testified that this was Thorstad’s second OWI. However, the officer was unaware of the order, because the prosecutor had failed to advise of same, an omission the trial court attributed to “laxness on the part of the State.” The trial court then ruled that,
Court of Appeals Publication Orders, 5/12
court of appeals publication orders, 5/31/12
On Point posts from this list:
2012 WI App 55 State v. Shawn M. Klingelhoets
2012 WI App 58 State v. Thomas M. Pocian
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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.