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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.
Terry Stop, Compared with Arrest
State v. Daniel R. Doyle, 2010AP2466-CR, District 4, 9/22/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Doyle: John C. Orth; case activity
Transport of drunk driving suspect 3-4 miles to local police station for purpose of administering field sobriety tests didn’t covert Terry stop into arrest, given that extreme, adverse weather conditions rendered impractical such testing at the scene.
¶11 Terry is codified in Wis.
Search Warrant – Probable Cause – Anonymous Informant
State v. Anastasia A. Lusty, 2010AP2827-CR, District 2, 9/21/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Lusty: Chandra N. Harvey, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Independent police investigation sufficiently corroborated enough details of tips from anonymous informants to support probable cause for a search warrant.
¶9 We reject Lusty’s argument. Based on our reading of the record, we are more than satisfied that the facts before the magistrate,
Efrain Morales v. Johnson, 7th Cir No. 10-1696, 9/20/11
seventh circuit court of appeals decision
Habeas – Ineffective Assistance, State Court Failure to Reach – Standard of Review
… When “no state court has squarely addressed the merits” of a habeas claim, however, we review the claim under the pre-AEDPA standard of 28 U.S.C. § 2243, under which we “ ‘dispose of the matter as law and justice require.’ ” Id. at 326 (quoting § 2243). This is “a more generous standard,” George v.
Trevor K. Ryan v. U.S., 7th Cir No. 10-1564, 9/16/11
seventh circuit court of appeals decision
Habeas – Counsel – Appeal
When a defendant in a criminal case specifically instructs a lawyer to file a notice of appeal, the lawyer’s failure to do so deprives the defendant of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, regardless of whether an appeal was likely to succeed. Roe v. Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. 470, 477 (2000); Peguero v. United States,
Sentencing – Discretion – Review
State v. Jason D. Spears, 2011AP934-CR, District 1, 9/20/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Spears: Kyle S. Conway; case activity
Trial court’s failure to explain rationale for sentence violated State v. Gallion, 2004 WI 42, ¶¶44-49, 270 Wis. 2d 535, 678 N.W.2d 197, and requires remand for resentencing.
¶11 Here, the circuit court did not explain how Spears’s criminal history impacted its sentencing decision,
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Lesser Offense; Sentencing – Exercise of Discretion
State v. Aaron Deal, 2010AP1804-CR, District 1, 9/20/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Deal: James A. Rebholz; case activity
Counsel’s refusal to argue to the jury that it should return a guilty verdict on felony murder, submitted as a lesser offense option of first-degree intentional homicide, wasn’t deficient in light of the defendant’s insistence on an all-or-nothing strategy.
¶8 At the Machner hearing,
Involuntary Statement – Harmless Error
State v. Dennis D. Lemoine, 2010AP2597-CR, District 4, 9/15/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Lemoine: Donna L. Hintze, Katie R. York, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity; supreme court review granted, 1/25/12
¶18 We agree with the trial court that the balance of the defendant’s personal characteristics against the tactics used by the police renders this is a “close case.” However,
Hearing-Impaired Juror: Inability to Hear Certain Testimony; Evidence: Haseltine “Vouching” Testimony – Harmless Error
State v. James T. Kettner, 2011 WI App 142 (recommended for publication); for Kettner: Andrew R. Hinkel, Jefren E. Olsen, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Hearing-Impaired Juror – Inability to Hear Certain Testimony
A juror’s inability to hear most of alleged victim S.K.’s answers in a videotaped interview didn’t violate Kettner’s rights to impartial jury or due process, given that S.K. also testified in person consistent with her videotaped answers.
James J. Jardine v. Dittmann, 7th Cir No. 09-3929, 9/14/11
seventh circuit court of appeals decision, denying habeas relief on review of Wis. COA No. 2008AP1533-CR; prior history: 2001AP713-CR, 1995AP1856-CR
Habeas – Exculpatory Evidence – Available to Defendant
Jardine argues that the State suppressed exculpatory evidence, namely that post-conviction testing of the gun he admittedly possessed but denied using to club the victim didn’t reveal the presence of the victim’s DNA.
State v. Tyler T., 2010AP784, District 2, 12/29/10, review granted 9/13/11
on review of unpublished decision; for Tyler T.: Susan E. Alesia, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Juvenile Delinquency – Waiver Investigation Hearing
Issue (Composed by On Point):
Whether, on petition to waive a juvenile into adult court, the State may give ex parte input to a local agency making the waiver recommendation pursuant to the circuit court’s request under § 939.18(2m).
The State filed a waiver petition;
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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.