State v. Angelica Nelson, 2014 WI 70, 7/16/14, affirming an unpublished per curiam court of appeals decision; majority decision by Justice Roggensack; case activity Nelson wanted to testify at her trial on child sexual assault charges, but after a colloquy with her about waiving her right to remain silent the trial judge wouldn’t let her because he… Read more
23. Structural error
Review of unpublished per curiam court of appeals decision; case activity Issue (composed by On Point) Does harmless error analysis apply when a trial judge erroneously denies a defendant the right to testify in her own defense? Nelson wanted to testify in her child sexual assault trial, and the court engaged in a colloquy with… Read more
court of appeals certification request; certification granted 2/25/13; case activity (Seaton); case activity (Pinno) Issue Presented (from Certification): Is the failure to object to the closure of a public trial to be analyzed upon appellate review under the “forfeiture standard” or the “waiver standard”? As suggested, in each of these consolidated cases the trial judge barred the… Read more
State v. Darrell K., 2010AP1910, District 1, 10/19/10 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Darrell K.: Jereny C. Perri, SPD, Milwaukee Darrell’s right to counsel was violated when the trial court granted counsel’s motion to withdraw then found Darrell in default as to grounds while he was unrepresented. State v. Shirley E… Read more
State v. Dhosi J. Ndina, 2009 WI 21, affirming 2007 WI App 268 For Ndina: Richard L. Kaiser Issue/Holding: ¶43 If a defendant’s right to a public trial is determined to have been violated, the defendant need not show prejudice; the doctrine of harmless error does not apply to structural errors. [15] [15] See Neder… Read more
State v. William Troy Ford, 2007 WI 138, affirming unpublished decision For Ford: Ralph J. Sczygelski Issue/Holding ¶42 … (S)tructural error [is] a “defect affecting the framework within which the trial proceeds, rather than simply an error in the trial process itself.” Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 310 (1991); State v. Shirley E., 2006… Read more
State v. Justin D. Gudgeon, 2006 WI App 143, PFR filed 7/14/06 For Gudgeon: Jefren E. Olsen, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue/Holding: ¶10 A biased tribunal, like the lack of counsel, constitutes a “structural error.” See id. at 8; Franklin v. McCaughtry, 398 F.3d 955, 961 (7th Cir. 2005); State v. Carprue, 2004 WI 111, ¶59, 274 Wis. 2d 656, 683 N.W.2d… Read more
Harrison Franklin v. McCaughtry, 398 F.3d 955 (7th Cir 2005), granting habeas relief in unpublished opinion of Wis COA Issue/Holding: The tripartite test for judicial bias (subjective inquiry answered by trial judge’s determination of own impartiality; objective examination as to whether reasonable person could question judge’s impartiality; and if partiality is established, whether it was harmless, see State v. Rochelt, 165… Read more
