Explore in-depth analysis

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.

NGI: Sufficiency of Evidence, Denial of Petition for Conditional Release

State v. Thomas Wenk, 2001 WI App 268, PFR filed 10/31/01 For Wenk: Michael K. Gould, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate Issue: Whether trial court denial of a petition for conditional release from an NGI commitment was an erroneous exercise of discretion. Holding: Although the state expressed doubt that it had met its burden of proof, the trial […]

Read full article >

SVP Commitments: Automatic Initial Confinement — Substantive Due Process and Equal Protection

State v. Isaac H. Williams, State v. Willie Hogan, 2001 WI App 263, PFR filed 11/23/01 For Williams: Donna L. Hintze, SPD, Madison Appellate For Hogan: Donald T. Lang, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue1: Whether the § 980.08(1) requirement that the SVP wait 18 months after initial commitment before petitioning for supervised release violates substantive due process. Holding: […]

Read full article >

SVP Commitments: Conditions of Confinement: WRC Policy Prohibiting Former Employees From Visiting Institution

Reuben Adams v. Macht, 2001 WI App 10, 241 Wis. 2d 28, 623 N.W.2d 215 Issue: Whether the Wisconsin Resource Center policy prohibiting former employees from visiting the institution is enforceable against a patient seeking visits from a former employee who is also the mother of his child. Holding: The policy is reasonable and based […]

Read full article >

SVP: Counsel — Waiver Standards

State v. Dennis R. Thiel (III), 2001 WI App 32, 241 Wis. 2d 465, 626 N.W.2d 26 For Thiel: John D. Lubarsky, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue: Whether the standard for waiver of right to counsel in a criminal proceeding applies to Ch. 980. Holding: “… (B)ecause WIS. STAT. § 980.09(2) guarantees the right to counsel […]

Read full article >

Sentence Modification — New Factor — Post-Sentencing Revocation — Linkage to Intended Drug Treatment

State v. Steve Norton, 2001 WI App 245 For Norton: Peter M. Koneazny, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate Issue: Whether an unanticipated, post-sentencing revocation amounted to a new factor justifying modification of sentence. Holding: ¶10. Although we agree with the State that, in general, revocation of probation in another case does not ordinarily present a new factor, the […]

Read full article >

Sentence Modification — New Factor — Lesser Culpability — Not “Unknowingly Overlooked”

State v. Andre D. Crockett, 2001 WI App 235, PFR filed For Crockett: David D. Cook Issue:Whether facts suggesting that the defendant might have been less culpable than his codefendants amounted to a new factor justifying modification of sentence. Holding: A new factor may be relate to facts “unknowingly overlooked” at sentencing; here, although the asserted new […]

Read full article >

Sentence Modification — New Factor — Escalona-Naranjo Bar to Raising

State v. John Casteel, 2001 WI App 188, PFR filed Issue: Whether Casteel’s failure to argue in a prior new-factor based attempt to modify sentence bars him from now arguing that the special action release program, § 304.02 — a statute extant at the time of the prior motion to modify — is a new factor. Holding: ¶17. We […]

Read full article >

Sentence Modification — New Factor: Transfer to out-of-state Prison

State v. Anthony A. Parker, 2001 WI App 111 Issue: Whether transfer to an out-of-state prison was a new factor supporting sentence modification. Holding: ¶11. Parker contends that his transfer out of state is a new factor that frustrates the purpose of his sentence because his placement no longer coincides with the judgment of conviction confining […]

Read full article >

SVP – Trial: Evidence – Other Crimes

State v. David J. Wolfe, 2001 WI App 136, 246 Wis.2d 233, 631 N.W.2d 240, PFR filed 5/18/01 For Wolfe: Ann T. Bowe Issue: Whether evidence of the respondent’s arson adjudication, and institutional violations and misconduct while at an adolescent treatment center were admissible under § 904.04. Holding: ¶37 Diagnoses of a mental disorder and […]

Read full article >

SVP – Jury Waiver – Advisal of Right to Jury Unanimity

State v. Kerby G. Denman, 2001 WI App 96, 243 Wis. 2d 14, 626 N.W.2d 29. For Denman: Glenn L. Cushing, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue: Whether a Ch. 980 respondent’s jury waiver requires advice of the right to a unanimous verdict. Holding: The court “look(s) to WIS. STAT. § 980.05(2), rather than the case law […]

Read full article >

On Point is sponsored by Wisconsin State Public Defenders. All content is subject to public disclosure. Comments are moderated. If you have questions about this blog, please email [email protected].

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.