On Point

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 which was improperly admitted pursuant to Wis. Stat.

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.

State v. Frank M. Ruszkiewicz, 2000 WI App 125, 237 Wis. 2d 441, 613 N.W.2d 893
For Ruszkiewicz: Mark S. Rosen

Issue: Whether the trial court erred in refusing to order production of the victim’s police and medical records, sought on the theory that they might show a condition that would cause her to bruise easily and, therefore, refute the element of force as demonstrated by her bruises.

State v. Robert D. Hanson, 2000 WI App 10, 232 Wis.2d 291, 606 N.W.2d 278
For Hanson: Suzanne L. Hagopian, SPD, Madison Appellate.

Issue: Whether the prosecutor breached the plea bargain by failing to expressly recommend the agreed 10 year sentencing cap, on a 15-year exposure.

Holding: Even though the prosecutor did not expressly recite the 10-year cap, the parties had “referred generally to the sentencing recommendation provision of the plea agreement a number of times,”

State v. Gabriel DeRango, 2000 WI 89, 236 Wis. 2d 721, 613 N.W.2d 833, affirming State v. Derango, 229 Wis. 2d 1, 599 N.W.2d 27
For Derango: Robert G. LeBell

Issue: Whether the trial court properly admitted, as misconduct evidence relevant to motive and intent on child enticement-related charges, depictions of sex acts by young females on videotapes found in the defendant’s home.

State v. Robert D. Hanson, 2000 WI App 10, 232 Wis.2d 291, 606 N.W.2d 278
For Hanson: Suzanne L. Hagopian, SPD, Madison Appellate.

Issue: Whether the prosecutor undermined a 10-year sentencing cap by emphasizing that “this is an extremely violent case,” along with other aggravating factors.

Holding: By stressing to the trial court that she was standing by the plea agreement, “the prosecutor strongly affirmed the plea agreement and did not make any statements that expressly,

State v. Thomas W. Koeppen, 2000 WI App 121, 237 Wis.2d 418, 614 N.W.2d 530
For Koeppen: Richard L. Zaffiro

Issue: Whether a prior act involving drunken resisting arrest was properly admitted into evidence.

Holding: The prior act was admitted on the permissible purposes of showing intent and absence of mistake; had probative value due to strong similarities to the current offense; and, given high probative value along with cautionary instruction,

State v. Luther Wade Cofield, 2000 WI App 196, 238 Wis. 2d 467, 618 N.W.2d 214
For Cofield: Donna L. Hintze, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether, on a charge of sexual assault where the defense was consent, evidence of prior sexual assaults were properly admissible.

Holding:

¶11 In reviewing the list set forth in WIS. STAT. § 904.04(2), we reject each of the proper ‘other purposes’

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 38
For Davidson: Jerome F. Buting & Pamela Moorshead

Issue: Whether, on a charge of sexually assaulting a 13-year old niece while on a camping trip, evidence of the defendant’s conviction ten years previous for sexually assaulting a 6-year old girl in a church basement was admissible.

State v. Edward A. Hammer, 2000 WI 92, 236 Wis. 2d 686, 613 N.W.2d 629, on certification, habeas denied, Hammer v. Karlen, 342 F. 3d 807 (7th Cir. 2003)
For Hammer: Rex Anderegg

Issue: Whether, in a trial for sexual assault of several adolescent males while staying at defendant’s parents’ home, evidence that defendant fondled an adult male, 5-7 years earlier while a guest at his home in Ohio,