1. Deficient performance

Michael B. v. Marcy M., 2011AP2846, District 2, 5/16/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Marcy M.: Jane S. Earle; case activity By responding (inadequately) to a TPR motion for summary judgment on grounds with a letter rather than evidence such as an affidavit, counsel provided ineffective assistance. ¶10      We disagree that counsel’s performance… Read more

State v. Ralph S. Stewart, 2011AP1424-CR, District 1, 5/15/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Stewart: Byron C. Lichstein; case activity Counsel’s failure to impeach police officers, with their own reported statements, was deficient: ¶17      While matters of trial strategy are generally left to counsel’s professional judgment, counsel may be found ineffective if… Read more

State v. Herbert Ambrose Darden, 2011AP883-CR, District 4, 5/3/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Darden: Angela Conrad Kachelski; case activity Trial counsel correctly construed the holding of State v. Miller, 231 Wis. 2d 447, 460, 605 N.W.2d 567 (Ct. App. 1999): ¶16      This is not the first time that we have been asked to… Read more

State v. Thaying Lor, 2011AP2019-CR, District 1, 5/1/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Lor: Benjamin F. Gallagher; case activity Effective Assistance of Counsel  Counsel did not provide ineffective representation in the following respects: Failure to timely file motion seeking admission of complainant’s prior untruthful allegation of sexual assault. However, Lor did… Read more

Question Presented (from cert petition):  In Padilla v. Kentucky, 130 S. Ct. 1473 (2010), this Court held that criminal defendants receive ineffective assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment when their attorneys fail to advise them that pleading guilty to an offense will subject them to deportation. The question presented is whether Padilla applies to… Read more

Lafler v. Anthony Cooper, USSC No. 10-209, 3/21/12, vacating and remanding, 376 Fed. Appx. 563 (6th Cir. 2010); prior post; companion case: Missouri v. Frye, 10-444 Cooper turned down a favorable plea bargain and instead went to trial, after his attorney erroneously told him the prosecution would be unable to establish intent to kill because… Read more

Heather T. C. v. Donald M. H., 2010AP467, District 2, 2/1/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Donald: Thomas K. Voss; case activity Failure to object at trial waived appellate challenge to jury instructions and verdict form that combined two separate periods of abandonment as grounds for termination.  ¶6        Failure to object to proposed jury instructions or… Read more