D. Ineffective Assistance

State v. David Arredondo, 2004 WI App 7, PFR filed 1/22/04 For Arredondo: James A. Rebholz Issue: Whether trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate a theory of 3rd-party guilt, in the absence of any evidence linking that party to the crime. Holding: ¶31. A trial attorney may select a particular defense from the available alternative… Read more

State v. James R. Thiel, 2003 WI 111, reversing unpublished opinion of court of appeals For Thiel: Bruce J. Rosen Issue/Holding: ¶37. Turning to counsel’s performance, we first recognize that counsel’s failure to review certain portions of the discovery provided by the prosecution–especially Dr. Metzler’s medical reports–was deficient performance as a matter of law. In a felony case… Read more

State v. James R. Thiel, 2003 WI 111, reversing unpublished opinion of court of appeals For Thiel: Bruce J. Rosen Issue/Holding: ¶51. Third, counsel’s interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 972.11(3) reflects a failure either to research or correctly interpret relevant portions of the law. The circuit court found that counsel interpreted this statute as allowing the defense to prevent the State… Read more

Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510 (2003) (ABA Standards, as “guides” to counsel’s duty to investigate, represent “clearly established precedent”); Keith B. Canaan v. McBride, 395 F. 3d 376 (7th Cir 2005): We follow the Court’s lead in Strickland and Wiggins by looking first to the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice and the ABA Guidelines for… Read more

State v. Gary L. Gordon, 2003 WI 69, reversing 2002 WI App 53, 250 Wis. 2d 702, 641 N.W.2d 183 For Gordon: Steven P. Weiss, SPD, Madison Appellate Issue/Holding: ¶24. The court of appeals held that the defense attorney’s closing argument concession on the disorderly conduct while armed count was the functional equivalent of a guilty plea… Read more

State v. William A. Silva, 2003 WI App 191, PFR filed 9/4/03 For Silva: Martin E. Kohler, Brian Kinstler, Donald E. Chewning Issue/Holding: (State v. Gordon, 2003 WI 69, followed. ¶15 n. 4:) ¶19 We are satisfied that, under the circumstances, Silva’s allegations do not defeat the strong presumption that trial counsel rendered adequate assistance. Silva’s… Read more

State v. Robert L. Snider, 2003 WI App 172, PFR filed 8/22/03 For Snider: Timothy J. Gaskell Issue/Holding: The detective’s testimony as to what he believed at the time he was conducting the investigation did not amount to a comment on the credibility of a witness, hence was not deficient performance, ¶27. Moreover, “(c)ounsel’s attempt to discredit… Read more