State v. Robert L. Brinson, 2010AP001819-CR, District 1, 5/10/11 court of appeals decision (3-judge, not recommended for publication); for Brinson: Paul Bugenhagen, Jr.; case activity Cautionary instruction cured any potential prejudice from revelation of prior record. ¶16 We disagree. The trial court instructed the jury several times that it could not consider Brinson’s possible status as a probationer or parolee, or the… Read more
F. Instructions
State v. Robert Lyle Lawver, Jr., 2010AP382-CR, District 4, 5/5/11 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Lawver: Cole Daniel Ruby; case activity Conviction for disorderly conduct upheld on following facts: ¶9 The pertinent facts include the following. Lawver was walking at night down an unlit highway, traveling with traffic, so that he… Read more
Bobby v. Harry Mitts, USSC No. 10-1000, 5/2/11 (per curiam) The death penalty may not be imposed when the jury isn’t permitted to consider a verdict of guilt on a lesser included, non-capital offense supported by the evidence, Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625 (1980). As the Court now notes: such a scheme intolerably enhances the… Read more
State v. Michael D. Below, 2011 WI App 64 (recommended for publication); for Below: Joseph L. Sommers; case activity Below indisputably caused massive injuries that resulted in the victim’s death, albeit after medical staff terminated life support. His reckless acts were therefore a “substantial factor” in, hence caused, her death. He was not entitled to… Read more
State v. Darron D. Jackson, 2011 WI App 63 (recommended for publication); for Jackson: Rebecca Lawnicki; case activity Waiver – Lesser Offense Instruction The jury convicted Jackson of recklessly endangering safety while armed, which was submitted as a lesser offense of the charged offense, attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Although Jackson did object to the endangering instruction… Read more
State v. Kelly J. McCredie, 2010AP1179-CR, District 2, 3/2/11 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for McCredie: William E. Schmaal, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity For purposes of 3rd-degree sexual assault, § 940.225(3), the actor cannot obtain consent by deceiving the victim as to his true identity. McCredie misled the victim into thinking… Read more
State v. Patrick R. Patterson, 2010 WI 130, affirming 2009 WI App 181; for Patterson: David R. Karpe; Patterson BiC; State Resp.; Reply Multiplicity – § 948.40(1) (4)(a) as Lesser Offense of § 940.02(2)(a) Contributing to the delinquency of a minor with death as a result, § 948.40(1), (4)(a) is not a lesser offense of first-degree… Read more
State v. Lea B. Kolner, 2010AP1233-CR, District 3, 11/2/10 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Kolner: R. Michael Waterman; BiC; Resp.; Reply Curative Instruction Any impropriety in the prosecutor’s opening statement (alleged comment on right to silence) was presumptively cured by the trial court’s instruction to disregard the entire opening statement. ¶11 … Read more