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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.

Attenuation of Taint – Consent Following Illegal Entry

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 consent to search, immediately following warrantless entry of the home, sufficiently attentuated any taint from that entry. Holding: Consent was freely given and […]

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Attenuation of Taint — Consent – Following Illegal Entry

State v. Kenneth M. Herrmann, 2000 WI App 38, 233 Wis. 2d 135, 608 N.W.2d 406 For Herrmann: Peter J. Morin Issue: Whether consent to search was valid, immediately following unlawful entry of the occupant’s apartment. Holding: Given the “coercive circumstances” – entry in middle of night, with officers yelling “search warrant” – any consent Herrmann […]

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Attenuation of Taint — Search Warrant

State v. Kenneth M. Herrmann, 2000 WI App 38, 233 Wis. 2d 135, 608 N.W.2d 406 For Herrmann: Peter J. Morin Issue: Whether the search warrant for Herrmann’s apartment was supported by evidence sufficiently untainted by an illegal entry into his apartment. Holding: The untainted discovery of nine marijuana plants, prior to the occurrence of the […]

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Exigency — Blood Alcohol

State v. Robert W. Wodenjak, 2001 WI App 216, PFR filed 8/31/01 For Wodenjak: Rex Anderegg Issue: Whether administration of a blood test, following OWI arrest, was reasonable under the fourth amendment, where the police first rejected the driver’s request for a (less invasive) breath test. Holding: As long as the standard for warrantless blood draw established […]

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Search & Seizure – Applicability of Exclusionary Rule — Government Action – Conduct by Non-Police Officer Pursuant to Court Order

State v. Robert C. Knight, 2000 WI App 16, 232 Wis.2d 305, 606 N.W.2d 291. For Knight: Scott B. Taylor. Issue: Whether seizure of a disbarred attorney’s client files by a court-ordered trustee amounted to governmental action so as to trigger fourth amendment protections. Holding: ¶8 Here, Garczynski’s seizure and search of Knight’s client files […]

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Plea-Withdrawal, Pre-Sentencing – Trial Court Anticipates Not Following Plea Bargain

State v. Adrian L. Williams, 2000 WI 78, 236 Wis. 2d 293, 613 N.W.2d 132, affirming unpublished decision of court of appeals For Williams: Ellen Henak, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate Issue: Whether “this court [should] adopt a new rule of procedure, which would require that if a trial judge anticipates exceeding the state’s sentence recommendation under […]

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Guilty Pleas – Suppression Appeal (§ 971.31(10)) – Harmless Error Analysis

State v. Jerome G. Semrau, 2000 WI App 54, 233 Wis. 2d 508, 608 N.W.2d 376 For Semrau: John D. Lubarsky, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue: Whether (assumed) erroneous refusal to suppress evidence was harmless on appeal following guilty plea, under Wis. Stat. § 971.31(10). Holding: Strength of admissible evidence, apart from unsuppressed evidence, placed Semrau […]

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Plea-Withdrawal – Pre-Sentence – Ignorance of Sex Offender Registration – Prejudice to State

State v. George R. Bollig, 2000 WI 6, 232 Wis. 2d 561, 605 N.W.2d 199, affirming State v. Bollig,, 224 Wis.2d 621, 593 N.W.2d 67 (Ct. App. 1999) For Bollig: Thomas E. Knothe, Collins, Quillin & Knothe, Ltd. Issue: Whether the trial court should have granted Bollig’s pre-sentencing motion to withdraw guilty plea based on […]

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§ 904.01, Relevance – Consciousness of Guilt — as Distinct from Misconduct Evidence

State v. Michael R. Bauer, 2000 WI App 206, 238 Wis. 2d 6887, 617 N.W.2d 902 For Bauer: Thomas Voss Issue: Whether evidence that the defendant, while awaiting trial, solicited the murders of people who were going to testify against him was admissible. Holding: ¶2            Bauer argues that the solicitation evidence was other acts evidence […]

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§ 904.01, Relevance – Silence in Face of Accusation

State v. Ondra Bond, 2000 WI App 118, 237 Wis. 2d 633, 614 N.W.2d 552, affirmed by equally divided court, 2001 WI 56. For Bond: William Coleman; Janet Barnes, Ellen Henak, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate Issue/Holding: The prosecution may not use at trial the fact that a defendant stood mute in the face of an accusation. ¶27.

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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.