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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.

State v. Miguel Marinez, No. 2009AP567-CR, Wis SCt rev grant 6/29/10

decision below (unpublished); for Marinez: Ralph Sczygelski Issues (as provided by the court): Did the circuit court erroneously exercise its discretion by admitting other acts evidence of the minor child’s videotaped statement without excerption of the hand-burning references? Did the court of appeals err by applying the de novo standard of review to the circuit […]

Habeas – exhaustion, effective assistance

Freddie L. Byers, Jr., v. Basinger, 7th Cir No. 09-1833, 7/9/10 7th Circuit decision Habeas – Exhaustion To exhaust a federal claim, a 2254 petitioner must have “fairly presented” it to the state court. … We use four factors to evaluate whether a petitioner has “fairly presented” his claim: “1) whether the petitioner relied on […]

John W. Sweeney v. Bartow, 7th Cir. No. 01-1447, 7/8/10

7th Circuit decision Abstention – SVP Proceeding The Younger v. Harris abstention doctrine applies to pending ch. 980 proceedings. What is true is that a person who is in state custody awaiting a determination by the state courts of the legality of his custody may seek federal habeas corpus to challenge that custody without being […]

Interlocutory-Appeal Petition – Reviewability

Estate of Robert C. Parker v. Beverly Enterprises, Inc., 2010 WI 71 The supreme court is empowered to review denial of a petition for leave to appeal non-final order by the court of appeals. ¶45 The language of our case law is strong. We have stated that “[w]here the court of appeals denies permission to […]

Jury Instructions: Exposing Child to Harmful Materials – Accident Defense – Waiver; Evidence: Richard A.P. – Corroboration Rule; Evidence: Character – Polygraph Offer; Voluntary Statement

State v. Esteban M. Gonzalez, 2010 WI App 104, reversed, 2011 WI 63, see: this post; for Gonzalez: Kristin Anne Hodorowski; BiC; Resp.; Reply Jury Instructions – Exposing Child to Harmful Materials The pattern instruction on exposing a child to harmful material, § 948.11(2)(a), accurately recites the elements, including scienter. ¶11 We agree with the trial […]

TPR – Plea-Withdrawal

Dane Co. DHS v. Brittany W., No. 2009AP2778, District IV, 7/8/10 court of appeals decision (1-judge; not fo publication); for Brittany W.: Lora B. Cerone, SPD, Madison Appellate The court rejects Brittany’s claim she didn’t understand the consequence of her no-contest plea (that she would be deemed unfit, and that disposition would turn on the […]

Evidence – Extraneous Misconduct; Effective Assistance

State v. Raymond A. Habersat, No. 2009AP976-CR, District I, 7/7/10 court of appeals decision (3-judge; not recommended for publication); for Habersat: Angela Conrad Kachelski; BiC; Resp.; Reply Evidence – Extraneous Misconduct On Habersat’s trial for first-degree sexual assault of a child, admission of evidence of his 1991 sexual assault of a child to establish motive […]

Sentencing – Accurate Information; New Factor

State v. Michael J. Grabowski, No. 2009AP2118-CR, District I, 7/7/10 court of appeals decision (3-judge; not recommended for publication); for Grabowski: Jamie F. Wiemer; BiC; Resp.; Reply Sentencing – Accurate Information ¶5        Grabowski argues that the circuit court sentenced him based on inaccurate information. A defendant claiming that a sentencing court relied on inaccurate information must […]

Confrontation – Limits on Cross-Examination

State v. Olu A. Rhodes, No. 2009AP25, District I, 7/7/10; reversed, 2011 WI 73 court of appeals decision (3-judge; not recommended for publication), reversed, 2011 WI 73; for Rhodes: John J. Grau; BiC; Resp.; Reply ¶10      A defendant’s “right to confront and to cross-examine is not absolute[,]” however, and “‘trial judges retain wide latitude … to […]

Rape-Shield – Prior Untruthful Allegation

State v. Jim H. Ringer, 2010 WI 69, reversing unpublished opinion; for Ringer: Thomas O. Mulligan; BiC; Resp.; Reply ¶3   We conclude that the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion when it granted Ringer’s motion in limine, allowing him to introduce at trial evidence that the child complainant made prior allegedly untruthful allegations of sexual […]

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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.