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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.

Sequestration — Expert

State v. Aaron Evans, 2000 WI App 178, 238 Wis.2d 411, 617 N.W.2d 220

For Evans: Steven D. Phillips, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether the trial court erroneously exercised discretion in preventing a DNA expert from sitting at counsel table.

Holding: “|10 We are satisfied that, on this record, the circuit court did not erroneously exercise its discretion in denying Evans’s request that Friedman be exempted from the sequestration order.

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SVP – Trial – Necessity of Objection to Insufficient Proof

State v. Dennis R. Thiel (I), 2000 WI 67, 235 Wis. 2d 823, 612 N.W.2d 94, on certification from court of appeals
For Thiel: John D. Lubarsky, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether the ch. 980 respondent waived his objection to insufficient proof by absence of objection.

Holding: “(T)he subject of a commitment petition under ch. 980 is not required to voice an objection to the allegations contained in the petition….

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Appellate Procedure: Finality of Order — Subsequent Order Superceding Prior Order

State v. Patrick E. Richter, 2000 WI 58, 235 Wis. 2d 524, 612 N.W.2d 29, reversing 224 Wis. 2d 814, 592 N.W.2d 310 (Ct. App. 1999)
For Richter: Susan Alesia, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether the second of two competing orders granting a suppression motion superceded the first, so as to make the state’s notice of appeal timely.
Holding: Under the circumstances, the trial court clearly intended the second order to supercede the first and the notice of appeal was therefore timely.

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Notice of Appeal – Indigency Filing – by Fax

State v. Ronald G. Sorenson, 2000 WI 43, 234 Wis. 2d 648, 611 N.W.2d 240, reversing unpublished decision of court of appeals

Issue: “(W)hether Wis. Stat. § 801.16(2), under which ‘papers that do not require a filing fee’ may be filed by facsimile transmission, permits indigent parties to file a notice of appeal by facsimile.”

Holding: ¶5:

We hold that a notice of appeal may be filed by facsimile transmission because a notice of appeal is not a paper that requires a filing fee to confer jurisdiction.

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Sentence Credit – Home Detention

State v. Paul E. Magnuson, 2000 WI 19, 233 Wis. 2d 40, 606 N.W.2d 536, reversing unpublished decision
For Magnuson: Keith A. Findley, UW Law School

Issue: Whether a defendant is entitled to sentence credit for time spent in home detention with electronic monitoring as a condition of bond.

Holding: Custody for sentence credit purposes is determined by whether the defendant’s status subjects him/her to an escape charge and,

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Closing Argument — Failure to Move for Mistrial

State v. Dale H. Davidson, 2000 WI 91, 236 Wis. 2d 537, 613 N.W.2d 606, reversing State v. Davidson, 222 Wis. 2d 233, 589 N.W.2d 038
For Davidson: Jerome F. Buting & Pamela Moorshead

Issue: Whether objection to the prosecutor’s closing argument was waived by failing to move for mistrial.
Holding: Although Davidson objected to the closing argument, his failure to also move for mistrial waived the objection.

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Restitution — Limitations — Federal ERISA Preemption — pension fund assets

State v. David W. Oakley, 2000 WI 37, 234 Wis. 2d 528, 609 N.W.2d 786, reversing State v. Oakley, 226 Wis. 2d 437, 594 N.W.2d 827 (Ct. App. 1999)
For Oakley: Timothy T. Kay

Issue: “(W)hether a circuit court may require payment of an old, unpaid fine that was imposed in a prior sentence as a condition of probation for a new conviction when violation of the condition of probation exposes the defendant to incarceration in county jail for more than six months.”

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Sentencing – Review – Articulation of Primary Factors in Setting PED

State v. David S. Leighton, 2000 WI App 156, 237 Wis.2d 709, 616 N.W.2d 126
For Leighton: Daniel Snyder

Issue/Holding: In setting parole eligibility date trial court need not separately refer to primary factors used in imposing sentence. ¶¶52-53.

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Double Jeopardy – Multiplicity: Child Enticement – Single Act

State v. William J. Church, 2000 WI 90, 223 Wis. 2d 641, 589 N.W.2d 638, dismissing review as improvidently granted, thereby affirming State v. Church , 223 Wis. 2d 641, 589 N.W.2d 638 (Ct. App. 1998)
For Church: James L. Fullin, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether the child enticement statute, § 948.07, supports multiple charges and punishments based on a single act.

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Enhancer – Construction – Prior Conviction Presumptively Elemental

State v. Jeffrey A. Warbelton, 2009 WI 6, affirming 2008 WI App 42
For Warbelton: Paul G. LaZotte, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue/Holding:

¶21      …. The legislature has the authority to designate a prior conviction as a penalty enhancer rather than an element of the offense. Almendarez-Torres, 523 U.S. at 246. Although the legislature is permitted to designate a prior conviction as a penalty enhancer,

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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.