At least three justices of the Supreme Court of the United states think so. The three (Sotomayor, Ginsburg, and Kagan) dissented from the court’s denial of certiorari in Reeves v. Alabama last week. Reeves had challenged his death sentence on the ground that his counsel had been ineffective in investigating and presenting potential mitigation evidence. He… Read more
D. Ineffective Assistance
State v. Micah Nathaniel Reno, 2016AP1371-CR, District 1 (not recommended for publication); case activity (including briefs) Reno’s trial lawyer wanted to call A.A. as a witness at trial. But A.A. had a pending case and A.A.’s lawyer told Reno’s lawyer not to talk to her. Thinking he was barred by the ethics rules from talking to… Read more
State v. Gary Lee Wayerski, 2015AP1083-CR, District 3, 10/31/17 (not recommended for publication), petition for review granted 3/13/18, and modified, and afford as modified, 2019 WI 11; case activity (including briefs) Rejecting Wayerski’s argument to the contrary, the court of appeals holds that a police officer alleged to have sexually assaulted two teenage boys could… Read more
State v. Eric L. Moore, 2016AP1292-CR, District 1, 10/31/17 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity (including briefs) Moore’s right to confrontation wasn’t violated by the admission of the recording of a 911 call about an incident in which Moore was alleged to have committed battery against A.J. Nor was Moore’s lawyer ineffective for deciding not… Read more
State v. Lamont Donnell Sholar, 2016AP987, petition for review granted 10/17/17; case activity (including briefs) Issues (composed by On Point) 1. When assessing the prejudice of defense counsel’s deficient performance in a multiple-count jury trial, may a court divide the prejudice analysis on a count-by-count basis, finding prejudice warranting relief on some counts from the… Read more
State v. Anthony R. Pico, 2015AP1799-CR, petition for review granted 10/10/17; case activity (including briefs) Issues (composed by On Point): 1. Did the Court of Appeals apply the proper standard of review to the trial court’s findings of fact regarding trial counsel’s conduct and strategy? 2. Did trial counsel perform deficiently by failing to investigate Pico’s serious… Read more
State v. Jeffrey S. Roehling, 2016AP35-CR, District 3, 10/3/17, (not recommended for publication), case activity (including briefs) Haven’t seen defense win in awhile–especially not regarding postconviction procedure. The court of appeals first rejects the State’s contention that a defendant who fails to request an extension of the 60-day deadline for a circuit court to decide… Read more
McCoy v. Louisiana, USSC No. 16-8255, cert granted 9/28/17 Question presented: Is it unconstitutional for defense counsel to concede an accused’s guilt over the accused’s express objection? Decision below: State v. McCoy, 218 So.3d 535 (La. 2016) USSC Docket Scotusblog page (including links to cert petition and responses; briefs; and commentary) You’d think the answer… Read more
