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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.

Plea Agreements — Partial Withdrawal: Repudiation of Entire Bargain<

State v. Corey D. Williams, 2003 WI App 116 For Williams: Michael J. Edmonds Issue/Holding: ¶21. As a final matter, we address the effect of Williams’s plea withdrawal on further proceedings in the circuit court. It is well-settled that “repudiation of a portion of the plea agreement constitutes a repudiation of the entire plea agreement.” […]

Plea Agreements — Partial Withdrawal: Repudiation of Entire Bargain

State v. Richard A. Lange, 2003 WI App 2 For Lange: Daniel F. Snyder Issue/Holding: Partial relief against a plea bargain-based guilty plea “constitutes a repudiation of the entire plea agreement,” ¶32, a principle which is now extended to instances where there are multiple judgments of conviction not all of which are under appeal, under […]

Plea Agreements — Judicial Participation — Conclusive Presumption of Involuntariness

State v. Corey D. Williams, 2003 WI App 116 For Williams: Michael J. Edmonds Issue/Holding: ¶1.… We conclude that judicial participation in the bargaining process that precedes a defendant’s plea raises a conclusive presumption that the plea was involuntary. Therefore, we adopt a bright-line rule barring any form of judicial participation in plea negotiations before […]

Plea Bargains — Breach: Procedural Issues — Preservation by Objection

State v. Leonard C. Matson, 2003 WI App 253 For Matson: Michael Yovovich, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue/Holding: Where counsel had raised a pre-sentencing objection on ground of plea bargain breach to the use of a detective’s letter to the court asking for a sentence exceeding the bargained length, failure to raise further objection at sentencing […]

Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) – “Context”

State v. John P. Hunt, 2003 WI 81, reversing unpublished order of court of appeals For Hunt: Rex R. Anderegg Issue/Holding: ¶58. First, the circuit court could reasonably have concluded, as it did, that the other-acts evidence was admissible for the purpose of establishing context. Other-acts evidence is permissible to show the context of the crime and […]

Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) – “Victim’s State of Mind”

State v. John P. Hunt, 2003 WI 81, reversing unpublished order of court of appeals For Hunt: Rex R. Anderegg Issue/Holding:   ¶59. The other-acts evidence was permissible to show the victims’ state of mind, to corroborate information provided to the police, and to establish the credibility of victims and witnesses in light of their recantations. Such […]

Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) – “Opportunity and Motive”

State v. John P. Hunt, 2003 WI 81, reversing unpublished order of court of appeals For Hunt: Rex R. Anderegg Issue/Holding: ¶60. Next, the circuit court could reasonably have concluded that the other-acts evidence was admissible for the purpose of establishing opportunity and motive. When a defendant’s motive for an alleged sexual assault is an element of […]

Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) — (Non-)Consent & State v. Alsteen

State v. Timothy M. Ziebart, 2003 WI App 258 For Ziebart: Robert R. Henak Issue: Whether the holding of State v. Alsteen, 108 Wis. 2d 723, 324 N.W.2d 426 (1982) (re sexual assault where the defendant admits the act but claims consent: prior sexual misconduct has no probative value) imposes an absolute bar against admissibility of prior […]

Plea Bargains – Breach: By Prosecutor — Less Than Neutral Recitation of Recommendation

State v. Rodney K. Stenseth, 2003 WI App 198, PFR filed 9/2/03 For Stenseth: Robert A. Ferg Issue/Holding: The state did not violate the plea bargain, which limited its recommended disposition to two years’ confinement plus extended supervision, by expressing agreement with some portions of the PSI (which recommended 8 years’ confinement plus supervision): ¶12. […]

Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) – “Reverse” Misconduct – Inability of Witness to Identify Defendant of Similar Uncharged Crime

State v. Robert Jamont Wright, 2003 WI App 252 For Wright: Ann Auberry Issue/Holding: ¶44. Alternatively, Wright argues that Lomack’s testimony was admissible as other acts evidence of a third-party perpetrator pursuant to Scheidell. Scheidell involved the admissibility of other acts evidence committed by an unknown third party, which was proffered by the accused on the issue of […]

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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.