State v. Michael Wade, 2018AP614-CR, 3/5/19, District 1 (1-judge opinion; ineligible for publication); case activity (including briefs) Wade challenged his convictions for misdemeanor intimidation of a witness and violating a domestic abuse injunction on the grounds that his trial lawyer had a conflict of interest: he had previously represented the victim in other criminal matters… Read more
C. Conflict of Interest
State v. Julius Lee Sanders, 2014AP2644, 6/6/2017, District 1 (not recommended for publication); case activity (including briefs) Julius Sanders appeals from his judgment of conviction and the denial, without a hearing, of his postconviction motion. His motion claimed that his counsel was ineffective for two reasons–he failed to investigate allegations Sanders made about the alleged… Read more
State v. Annette Morales-Rodriguez, 2014AP1438-CR, District 1, 2/3/15 (not recommended for publication); click here for briefs A defendant must assert that she was denied her constitutional right to the counsel of her choice before trial, not after. Also, an attorney clears the “deficient performance” prong of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim where he withdraws… Read more
State v. Marcos Ordonia-Roman, 2012AP1371-CR, District 1/4, 4/10/14; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity In a motion to suppress Ordonia-Roman’s confession, trial counsel alleged that during his interrogation Ordonia-Roman was without a required medication and was not allowed to take the medication. At the suppression hearing, however, Ordonia-Roman testified he had been prescribed the medication, but… Read more
Conflict of interest – dual representation of defendant and a defense witness facing perjury charges
State v. Jesus C. Villarreal, 2013 WI App 33; case activity Trial counsel was ineffective because he had an actual conflict of interest arising from his dual representation of both Villareal and a defense witness who had testified at Villarreal’s first trial (which ended in a hung jury ) and who, before the second trial… Read more
State v. Jose O. Gonzalez-Villarreal, 2012 WI App 110 (recommended for publication); case activity Counsel (Michael J. Knoeller) was present while the police interrogated, and elicited incriminating responses from, his client, Gonzalez-Villarreal. G-V didn’t speak English, and Knoeller doubled as interpreter. The state issued charges, and Knoeller continued to represent G-V. However, the state moved… Read more
Dunn County Human Services v. Eric R., 2011AP2416, District 3, 9/5/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity That counsel for the parent on a termination petition had, while serving as a family court commissioner 19 months earlier, entered a child support order against the parent, did not alone establish a conflict of… Read more
State v. James E. Emerson, 2011AP1028-CR, District 3, 6/26/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity Counsel – Substitute Given findings made by the lower court after an evidentiary hearing, the court of appeals upholds denial of counsel’s motion to withdraw: counsel was prepared for trial; “(t)his was a dilatory tactic by the defendant,”… Read more