State v. Miller X. Lark-Holland, 2011AP791-CR, District 1, 2/28/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Lark-Holland: Byron C. Lichstein; case activity ¶7 Lark-Holland’s first complaint is that his trial lawyer did not emphasize the mitigating factor that he said he was forced into committing the robbery, and also made several comments that he… Read more
D. Ineffective Assistance
State v. Juan Angel Orengo, 2011AP137, District 1, 2/28/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Orengo: Robert R. Henak; case activity Counsel’s failure to attempt severance, from a drug charge, of a felon-in-possession-of-weapon count, didn’t amount to ineffective assistance. ¶8 Wisconsin law recognizes that guns and drug dealers go together. See State v. Guy, 172 Wis. 2d 86… Read more
David M. Siegel, “What (Can) (Should) (Must) Defense Counsel Withhold from The Prosecution in Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Proceedings?,” The Champion, Vol. 18, No. 35, December 2011 Must-read exegesis of ABA Formal Opinion 10-456, for anyone litigating, or on the business end of, an ineffective-assistance claim. Some highlights: “The attorney-client privilege and the obligation of… Read more
seventh circuit decision Habeas – Knowing Use of False Testimony (“Napue”) Due process prohibits knowing prosecutorial use of false testimony, Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269 (1959). However, the prosecutor’s exploitation of Bland’s incorrect testimony on a potentially important point (the date his gun was confiscated) doesn’t support habeas relief on a Napue-type theory. Napue and Giglio hold… Read more
Marilyn Mulero v. Thompson, 7th Cir No. 10-3875, 2/7/12 seventh circuit decision Habeas – Procedural Bar Muleros’ failure to present various claims “through one complete round of state court review” operates as procedural default; citing, Smith v. McKee, 598 F.3d 374, 382 (7th Cir. 2010). … While Mulero did present numerous other claims of ineffective… Read more
7th circuit decision, imposing discipline Sanctions – Abandonment of Client It is apparent from this final motion for additional time that Boyle-Saxton elected to put work for other clients ahead of her obligations to Rodriguez and this court. That is unprofessional; lawyers have an ethical obligation to take no more work than they can perform… 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Heather T. C. v. Donald M. H., 2010AP467, District 2, 2/1/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Donald: Thomas K. Voss; case activity Failure to object at trial waived appellate challenge to jury instructions and verdict form that combined two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
State v. Kwesi B. Amonoo, 2011AP566, District 1, 1/24/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Amonoo: Robert N. Meyeroff; case activity Amonoo fails to show that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance with respect to pretrial identification procedure (context: “sufficient reason” to overcome serial litigation bar following direct appeal): ¶15 Amonoo contends that of… Read more
