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.

CHIPS Appeal – Commenced by NOI

Juneau County DHS v. James B., 2000 WI App 86, 234 Wis. 2d 406, 610 N.W.2d 144
For Appellant: James L. Boardman; Chris R. Velnetske

Issue: Whether the court of appeals acquires jurisdiction over a CHIPS appeal commenced by notice of appeal without prior notice of intent to pursue relief.

Holding: ¶4:

In CHIPS cases, appeals are commenced by first filing of a notice of intent to pursue postconviction relief,

Read full article >

Appellate Procedure: Finality of Order – Refusal to Bind Over

State v. Romero D. Wilson, 2000 WI App 114, 235 Wis.2d 177, 612 N.W.2d 368
For Wilson: Steven P. Weiss, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether an order dismissing a complaint, on refusal to bind over at preliminary hearing, is final and therefore appealable by the state.
Holding: An order dismissing a complaint is a final order, appealable by the state as of right (reaffirming State v.

Read full article >

Interlocutory Appeal – “Alford” Plea – Challenge to Trial Court’s Refusal to Accept

State v. William F. Williams, 2000 WI App 123, 237 Wis.2d 591, 614 N.W.2d 11
For Williams: Steven P. Weiss, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether the trial court erroneously refused to accept an “Alford” plea under its express policy of never accepting one.

Holding:

¶8  Even if we were to determine that the trial court erred in rejecting the tendered Alford plea, the error would not justify setting aside the results of Williams’s jury trial.

Read full article >

Sentence Credit – Read-in

State v. Warrick D. Floyd, 2000 WI 14, 232 Wis. 2d 767, 606 N.W.2d 155, on certification
For Floyd: David D. Leeper

Issue: Whether a defendant is entitled to sentence credit under Wis. Stat. § 973.155(1) for time spent in custody on a charge that is dismissed and read-in at sentencing.

Holding: Pre-trial confinement on a charge dismissed and read in at sentencing is related to the sentenced offense and therefore qualifies for credit:

¶31  In limiting the statute’s scope,

Read full article >

Mootness

State ex rel. Larry E. Olson v. Litscher, 2000 WI App 61, 233 Wis. 2d 685, 608 N.W.2d 425

For Olson: Dennis Egre, SPD, Kenosha

Issue: Whether this case is moot, where the challenge is to the authorities’ failure to parole a prisoner at his mandatory release date, but he was released during the pendency of the case.

Holding: Although Olson’s release rendered the case moot,

Read full article >

Probation Modification – Necessity of Postconviction Motion

State v. Bernard G. Fearing, 2000 WI App 229, 239 Wis.2d 105, 619 N.W.2d 115
For Fearing: Patrick J. Stangl

Issue: Whether a defendant must first raise a challenge to a condition of probation in a trial-level postconviction motion before seeking relief in the appellate court.

Holding: Even if the rule that review of a sentence requires a trial-level motion applies to review of a condition of probation,

Read full article >

Sentence After Revocation – Modification – Timeliness of Motion

State v. Joseph Scaccio III, 2000 WI App 265, 240 Wis.2d 95
For Scaccio: Jim D. Scott

Issue: Whether Scaccio’s motion to modify a sentencing imposed after revocation was untimely because he failed to appeal the original judgment of conviction.

Holding/Analysis: The principle is readily stated — you can take a direct appeal of a sentence imposed after revocation — but a certain amount of elaboration is unfortunately required.

Read full article >

Sentence Credit – Consecutive Sentences

State v. Thomas W. Jackson, 233 Wis.2d 231, 607 N.W.2d 338 (Ct. App. 2000)
For Jackson: Martha K. Askins, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether a defendant is entitled to sentence credit on each consecutive sentence.

Holding: Credit is allotted only toward the first of consecutive sentences.

While on probation in Fond du Lac, Jackson was arrested on new charges in Dodge, where he was held on both the new charges and a probation hold.

Read full article >

Waiver of Issue: Dismissal Motion – Ruling Reserved Until After Defense Case

State v. Dennis E. Scott, 2000 WI App 51, 234 Wis. 2d 129, 608 N.W.2d 753
For Scott: Joseph E. Redding

Issue: Whether right to review of a motion to dismiss at the close of the state’s case waived by failing to object to the trial court’s delay in ruling until after the defense presents its case.

Holding: Although “the better practice is for trial courts to decide the motion at the close of the State’s case,”

Read full article >

Restitution — Waiver of Objection

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

Issue/Holding:

¶55 WISCONSIN STAT. § 973.20, governing restitution in criminal cases, “provides that a trial court ‘shall order the defendant to make full or partial restitution under this section to any victim of a crime,’ when imposing a sentence or probation for any crime.” State v.

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.