Kenosha County DC&FS v. A.G.O., 2023AP1305, 1307 & 1308, 5/8/24, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity In yet another TPR case involving allegations of ineffective assistance, COA affirms based on hard-to-overcome legal standards. “Adam” appeals TPR judgments involving three of his children. (¶1). He raises two issues: Summary Judgment In the run-up… Read more
46. WI Court of Appeals
Brown County v. R.J.M., 2024AP206, 5/7/24, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity Despite the doctor’s imprecise and generic testimony, COA holds that admission of his report resolves any deficiencies in the record and affirms. This appeal of recommitment and involuntary medication orders presents three common issues, all of which are resolved with… Read more
State v. Cordiaral F. West, 2022AP2196, 5/1/24, District II (recommended for publication); case activity COA interprets a statute allowing aggregation of separate drug offenses into a single charge and holds that West is not entitled to plea withdrawal. An investigation into suspected drug dealing resulted with West being charged with six crimes related to conduct… Read more
In March, the court of appeals ordered the publication of two criminal law related decisions. In April, the court ordered the publication of one such decision. State v. M.L.J.N.L., 2024 WI App 11 (reversing a juvenile restitution order and agreeing with State’s concession that Marsy’s Law did not render limitation of juvenile restituion unconstitutional). State v… Read more
State v. Paul R. Noble, 2023AP1444-CR, 4/24/24, District II (one-judge decision, ineligible for publication); case activity While Noble’s arguments on appeal appear to have substantial merit, the court of appeals declines to address the merits because the state abandoned the appeal and thereby conceded that “Noble’s arguments are correct.” Roughly two years after Noble’s sentencing… Read more
State v. Megan E. Zeien, 2023AP1787-CR, 4/24/24, District II (one-judge decision, ineligible for publication); case activity If you’ve ever wondered whether you have a Bangert claim concerning a circuit court’s failure to “ascertain personally whether a factual basis exists to support [your client’s] plea,” this unpublished but citable decision is worth a read. Unfortunately, the… Read more
State v. Luis A. Ramirez, 2022AP959-CR, 4/25/24, District IV (recommended for publication); petition for review granted 10/7/24, case activity In a must-read defense win, COA holds that the State’s “cavalier disregard” for Ramirez’s speedy trial rights entitle him to dismissal of the underlying complaint. Be warned: This is a lengthy opinion, the upshot of which is… Read more
Kenosha County DC&FS v. M.A.M., 2023AP1643-45, 4/24/24, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity In a case demonstrating the difficult hurdles litigants must clear in order to prove deficient performance, COA affirms an underlying order terminating “Mary’s” parental rights. In this TPR action involving multiple children, the County alleged only one ground–continuing CHIPS… Read more