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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.
Sentencing Discretion, DNA Surcharge: Ability to Pay
State v. Michael T. Ziller, 2011 WI App 164 (recommended for publication); for Ziller: Michael S. Holzman; case activity
¶11 On the basis of our review of the record in this case, we are satisfied that the circuit court properly exercised its discretion in sentencing Ziller. The circuit court considered the three primary sentencing factors and noted them on the record. See State v. Gallion,
TPR – Admission
Racine County HSD v. Bobby G. H., 2011AP795, District 2, 11/16/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Bobby G.H.: William E. Schmaal, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Bobby’s phase-1 admission to termination of parental rights on the ground of failure to assume responsibility didn’t require that the trial court hear testimony before accepting the admission.
State v. Scott E. Ziegler, 2010AP2514-CR, District 2, 11/16/11
court of appeals certification, affirmed 2012 WI 73; for Ziegler: Christopher William Rose; case activity
Interfering with Custody, § 948.31(2)
Issue certified: Whether the court of appeals’ prior interpretation of § 948.31(2) to require “initial permission” from the parent should be overruled, State v. Bowden, 2007 WI App 234, ¶18, 306 Wis.
State v. Howard E. Wells, 2011AP1394-CR, District 3, 11/15/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Wells: Matthew Murray; case activity
Plea Bargaining – Judicial Participation
Neither the trial court’s allusion to the disposition it would impose if Wells pleaded guilty (“I’ll probably go along with the recommendation,” but proceeding to trial “would be a whole different ballgame”) nor its own assessment of the representation advice it would have given (“I’d probably tell that client to take the deal … because you got [] big exposure”) amounted to prohibited judicial participation in the plea bargaining process:
¶10 We conclude that,
TPR – Constitutionality of § 48.415(6); Interest of Justice Review – Jury Instructions, Failure to Assume Parental Responsibility
Langlade County Dept. of Social Services v. Rebecca D., 2010AP2497, District 3, 11/15/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Rebecca D.: William E. Schmaal, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
¶19 On the facts adduced at trial, Rebecca clearly failed to assume parental responsibility for Anthony, pursuant to the standards set forth in Wis. Stat. § 48.415(6). Anthony was nearly five months old when he was removed from Rebecca’s home.
Traffic Stop Duration: Passenger
State v. Jamie L. Salonen, 2011 WI App 157 (recommended for publication); for Salonen: Robert J. Wells, Jr.; case activity
¶1 The trial court in this case granted Jamie L. Salonen’s motion to suppress evidence obtained after she asked to leave the scene of a roadside stop of a vehicle in which she was a passenger, which request was denied by police. A passage in Arizona v.
PBT Admissibility – OWI, Sufficiency of Evidence
City of Mequon v. Michael R. Wilt, 2011AP931, District 2, 11/9/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Wilt: Walter Arthur Piel, Jr.; case activity
Because the trial court in this bench trial did not rely on the breath test result in finding Wilt guilty of OWI, therefore his argument that the PBT result was inadmissible need not be reached, ¶¶16-17. As to whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction absent the test result:
¶23 Proof of impairment was sufficient and established by clear,
Sentencing Review – Presumptive Minimum, § 939.617(2)
State v. Alok Kumar, 2010AP2703-CR, District 1, 11/8/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Kumar: Robin Shellow, Michael E. O’Rourke; case activity
Sentence to presumptive minimum (5 years confinement) for using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, § 948.075(lr), is upheld as a proper exercise of discretion, against Kumar’s arguments that the sentencing court: didn’t permit him to show sentences imposed by other circuit courts in presumptive-minimum cases;
Refusal to Submit to Chemical Blood Test
State v. Michael D. Urben, 2011AP982, District 1, 11/8/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Urben: Andrew Mishlove, Lauren Stuckert; case activity
Notwithstanding evidence that Urben suffered seizures before and after an automobile accident, his refusal to take BAC test wasn’t because of physical disability or disease unrelated to use of alcohol, controlled substances, etc., § 343.305(9)(a)5.c.
¶12 Under Wis.
Warrantless Arrest – Curtilage – Porch
State v. Gary F. Wieczorek, 2011AP1184-CR, District 3, 11/8/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Wieczorek: James R. Koby; case activity
Warrantless arrest of Wieczorek on his front porch for OWI, after he answered the officer’s knock was constitutional. The record doesn’t show that Wieczorek had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the porch. ¶¶10-11, distinguishing State v. Walker,
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