On Point

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 […]

State v. Jose C. McGill, 2000 WI 38, 234 Wis. 2d 560, 609 N.W.2d 795, affirming unpublished decision For McGill: Steven P. Weiss, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue: Whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to believe McGill armed and dangerous, and therefore to frisk him, following a routine traffic stop. Holding: Judged by the requisite objective test, the […]

State v. Lance R. Ward, 2000 WI 3, 231 Wis.2d 723, 604 N.W.2d 517, reversing State v. Ward, 222 Wis. 2d 311, 588 N.W.2d 645.For Ward: Daniel P. Dunn Issue: Whether the exclusionary rule applies where the police relied on judge-made law that automatically countenanced all no-knock entries to search for drugs and that law […]

State v. Lisa Orta and Ricardo Ruiz, 2000 WI 4, 231 Wis.2d 782, 604 N.W.2d 543, reversing unpublished decision For Orta: Mark F. Nielsen, Schwartz, Tifte & Nielsen For Ruiz: Michael P. Reisterer, Jr. For amici (SPD & WACDL): Mary E. Waitrovich, SPD, Madison Appellate, & Howard B. Eisenberg Issue: Whether the exclusionary rule applies […]

State v. Terry Griffith, 2000 WI 72, 236 Wis. 2d 48, 613 N.W.2d 72, affirming unpublished decision of court of appeals For Griffith: Paul G. LaZotte Issue: Whether the police lacked authority to ask the name and birth date of a passenger of a lawfully stopped car. Holding: The police may request identifying information from passengers during traffic stops, […]

State v. Melvin L. Moffett and Jerrell I. Denson, 2000 WI 130, 239 Wis. 2d 629, 619 N.W.2d 918, affirming State v. Moffett/Denson, 2000 WI App 67, 233 Wis. 2d 628, 608 N.W.2d 733 For Moffett: Patrick J. Stangl; for Denson: Joseph L. Sommers Issue: ¶2 The parties present the following question to this court: May the State […]

State v. Thomas G. Martwick, 2000 WI 5, 231 Wis.2d 801, 604 N.W.2d 552, reversing unpublished decision For Martwick: Robert P. Rusch Issue: Whether plants found on Martwick’s property were within his curtilage, and therefore subject to the warrant requirement, or in “open fields.” Holding: The plants were in open fields, outside the curtilage, and therefore could be […]

State v. Vanessa D. Hughes, 2000 WI 24, 233 Wis. 2d 280, 607 N.W.2d 621, reversing unpublished decision, cert. denied, __ U.S. __ (2001).For Hughes: Andrea Taylor Cornwall, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate. Issue1: Whether “the combination of the strong odor of marijuana coming from the apartment, and the knowledge on the part of the occupants that the police are […]

State v. Lane R. Weidner, 2000 WI 52, 235 Wis. 2d 306, 611 N.W.2d 684, on certification For Weidner: Steven D. Phillips, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue: Whether § 948.11(2) is unconstitutional. Holding: ¶43  In sum, we determine that Wis. Stat. § 948.11(2) is unconstitutional in the context of the internet and other situations that do not involve face-to-face […]

State v. Vanessa D. Hughes, 2000 WI 24, 233 Wis. 2d 280, 607 N.W.2d 621, reversing unpublished decision, cert. denied, __ U.S. __ (2001). For Hughes: Andrea Taylor Cornwall, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate. Issue: Whether Hughes voluntarily consented to a search of her person. Holding: By verbally consenting and affirmatively assisting the police by lifting her skirt, Hughes did more […]