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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.
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Guilty Pleas – Required Knowledge – Direct and Collateral Consequences – Maximum Punishment
State v. Kenneth V. Harden, 2005 WI App 252 For Harden: Ralph Sczygelski Issue/Holding: Misinformation with respect to the maximum punishment (defendant was told the maximum was 19 years, 6 months when the correct maximum was 16 years) necessarily renders the guilty plea invalid, without regard to whether the misinformation affected the decision to plead […]
“Maday” Examination of Complainant Where State’s Expert Never Conducted Exam
State v. Lionel N. Anderson, 2005 WI App 238 For Anderson: Harry R. Hertel; Steven H. Gibbs Issue/Holding: Where the State’s expert witness never interviewed the victim (nor viewed a videotape of the victim’s statement), the defendant wasn’t entitled to a psychological examination of the victim pursuant to State v. Maday, 179 Wis. 2d 346, […]
Controlled Substance – Sufficiency of Evidence, Proof of Substance — Presumptive and Confirmatory Testing
State v. Sheldon C. Stank, 2005 WI App 236 For Stank: Dennis P. Coffey Issue/Holding: Proof of the controlled substance is sufficient where a “presumptive” test is followed by a “confirmatory” one (State v. Dye, 215 Wis. 2d 281, 572 N.W.2d 524 (Ct. App. 1997), followed), with the PDR being used to establish the presumption: ¶42 Here, the […]
Expert Opinion – TPR Parent’s Ability to Meet Condition for Child’s Return
Brown County v. Shannon R., 2005 WI 160, reversing unpublished opinion For Shannon R.: Brian C. Findley, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue: Whether the circuit court erroneously exercised discretion in precluding expert testimony on the issue of whether the TPR respondent is likely to be able to meet the conditions for return of her children. Holding: […]
Evidence – Hearsay – Co-Conspirator’s Statement, § 908.01(4)(b)5.
State v. Boon Savanh, 2005 WI App 245 For Savanh: Timothy A. Provis Issue/Holding: ¶32, n. 4: A statement made by a coconspirator in furtherance of the conspiracy is not a hearsay “exception”; it expressly is not hearsay. Wis. Stat. § 908.01(4)(b)5. (2003-04). While hearsay “exemption” is a more appropriate term, statements made under this subsection […]
Confrontation – Hearsay – Impeachment as Exception to Crawford / § 908.06 – Admissibility of Hearsay Statement to Attack Credibility of Declarant
State v. Jermaine Smith, 2005 WI App 152, PFR filed For Smith: Glen B. Kulkoski Issue: Whether a co-actor’s in-custody pretrial statements were admissible as impeachment on rebuttal after the defense introduced a different hearsay statement by that declarant. Holding: ¶10 The State’s rebuttal was solely to impeach Nunn’s credibility under the provisions of Wis. […]
Videotaped Statements of Children, § 908.08 – Constitutionality
State v. Kevin D. James, 2005 WI App 188 For James: Terry W. Rose Issue/Holding: The mere fact that § 908.08 imposes a mandatory protocol (videotape admitted into evidence first; child called to testify afterward) violates neither confrontation, ¶¶10-14, nor separation-of-powers, ¶¶15-25, doctrines.This statutory procedure allows the State to introduce a child’s videotaped statement, with the […]
Authentication, § 909.01
State v. Thomas Scott Bailey Smith, Sr., 2005 WI 104, reversing 2004 WI App 116 For Smith: Patrick M. Donnelly, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue/Holding: Testimony of a court employee that she had examined a certified copy of a foreign court order and that the exhibit to be admitted into evidence was a copy of that order sufficiently authenticated […]
Rape-Shield, § 972.11 – Semen Swab Not Linked to Defendant
State v. Tyrone Booker, 2005 WI App 182 For Booker: Jeffrey W. Jensen Issue: Whether the trial court erroneously exercised discretion under the rape-shield law, and denied effective cross-examination, by excluding evidence of semen swabs of the alleged sexual assault victim not linked to Booker, where the allegations against him involved touching not intercourse. Holding: ¶16 … […]
§ 904.01, Relevance – Consciousness of Guilt: Flight
State v. Lionel N. Anderson, 2005 WI App 238 For Anderson: Harry R. Hertel; Steven H. Gibbs Issue/Holding: Evidence of flight is not other-acts evidence but, rather, “an admission by conduct”; thus, evidence that Anderson fled the state after learning that the police had been contacted was admissible, ¶29, citing, State v. Earl L. Miller, […]
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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.