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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.

Probable Cause – Seizure of Personal Property

State v. Wilson J. Behling, 2011AP483-CR, District 3, 10/18/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Behling: John M. Carroll; case activity

Probable cause that Behling’s backpack contained contraband supported its seizure so that a warrant could be obtained and the item searched:

¶28      We conclude Hoffman had probable cause to believe Behling’s backpack contained contraband or evidence of a crime.  Here, Hoffman’s seizure was based on the following facts: (1) Behling entered a county park where drug activity has occurred;

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Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

State v. Michael A. Clements, 2010AP1978-CR, District 4, 10/13/11

court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Clements: Steven D. Grunder, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity

Counsel’s performance not deficient, against claims that he failed to: impeach the complainant with a prior recorded statement; object on hearsay grounds to admissibility of her statement to a school counselor; object to the State’s closing-argument characterization of the sole defense witness;

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Appellate Briefing – Forfeiture of Argument; Harmless Error

State v. Joshua P. O’Keefe, 2010AP2898-CR, District 4, 10/13/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for O’Keefe: Steven D. Grunder, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity

¶7        O’Keefe contends that the circuit court erred in admitting the testimony of Bannach and Wanta in which they read to the jury the “Diagnosis” portion of the medical reports because O’Keefe was not afforded an opportunity to cross-examine the doctors who prepared the reports,

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Waiver of Right to Counsel: Adequacy – Reinstatement

State v. Joel D. Rhodes, 2011 WI App 145; for Rhodes: Chris L. Hartley; case activity

Self-Representation – Adequacy of Waiver of Right to Counsel 

The trial court undertook a valid waiver of counsel, pursuant to State v. Klessig, 211 Wis. 2d 194, 206, 564 N.W.2d 716 (1997):

¶18      We reject Rhodes’s claim.  The circuit court conducted a colloquy with Rhodes that the State aptly describes as exemplary.  

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State v. Little A. Stewart, 2011 WI App 152

court of appeals decision (recommended for publication); for Little: Jeffrey W. Jensen; case activity

Probable Cause to Arrest 

¶14      In Stewart’s case, the pertinent facts are:

•           On March 10, 2009, a reliable confidential informant told Agent Gray that one of the people who had been arrested with Alderman McGee was going to be bringing cocaine to Milwaukee.  After Gray obtained the names and photographs of individuals who had been arrested in Alderman McGee’s case and showed them to the informant,

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Traffic Stop – Duration; Frisk – “Armed and Presently Dangerous”

State v. Jon Paul A. Fernandez, 2010AP1394-CR, District 2, 10/12/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Fernandez: Jefren E. Olsen, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity

Concededly lawful traffic stop (operating without headlights) wasn’t unreasonably prolonged by warrant checks, arrest of passenger on warrant for unpaid forfeiture, and then search of car incident to that arrest, before the traffic ticket was issued, ¶11 (“Absent any indication of unreasonable delay,

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Juvenile Sex Offender Registration – Authority to Stay

State v. Malcolm L., 2011AP714, District 2, 10/12/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Malcolm L.: Eileen A. Hirsch, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity

Juvenile courts have authority to stay sex offender registration, § 938.34(16), and State v. Cesar G., 2004 WI 61, 272 Wis. 2d 22, 682 N.W.2d 1. Here, the trial court erroneously failed to exercise discretion on Malcolm’s request for such a stay.

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Alex Blueford v. Arkansas, USSC No. 10-1320, cert granted 10/11/11

Docket

Decision below: Blueford v. State, 2011 Ark. 8

Question Presented (from cert. pet.):

Whether, if a jury deadlocks on a lesser-included offense, the Double Jeopardy Clause bars reprosecution of a greater offense after a jury announces that it has voted against guilt on the greater offense.

Cert. Petition

SCOTUSblog page

Blueford was tried for capital murder.

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First-Degree Intentional Homicide – Sufficiency of Evidence; Evidence – Habit, § 904.06(1)

State v. Thomas C. Niesen, 2010AP1864-CR, District 2, 10/5/11

court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Niesen: James A. Rebholz; case activity

Evidence held sufficient to sustain conviction § 940.01(1), court rejecting argument that State failed to prove that Niesen inflicted the fatal knife wound. (Niesen made certain damaging admissions; he met the description of the man last seen with the victim; his sperm was found in the ¶¶2-21.

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Sex Offender Registration – Delinquency Proceeding

State v. Timothy J. K., 2011AP1091, District 2, 10/5/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Timothy J.K.: Eileen A. Hirsch, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity

The trial court’s requirement of sex offender registration, § 301.45(1m)(d)(1), is upheld against an argument that the court misconstrued an expert’s recommendation of no registration.

¶9        Timothy fails to clear the first hurdle of the Tiepelman standard.  

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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.