7th circuit decision Habeas Review – Inadmissible Evidence – Harmless Error Error in jury exposure, during deliberations, to inadmissible police report deemed harmless where the report contained merely cumulative information, the trial court gave a curative instruction, and the evidence against Brown was overwhelming. The standard on direct appeal for measuring reversible error is the… Read more
25. Jury
Felkner v. Steven Frank Jackson, USSC No. 10-797, 3/31/11 On habeas review under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, the court of appeals failed to give sufficient deference to the state court determination that the prosecutor had race-neutral reasons for striking 2 of 3 black prospective jurors. The prosecutor struck one juror because she had an MSW, and… Read more
7th circuit court of appeals decision Batson Challenge Scope of the remand inquiry for the government to proffer nonracial justification for striking a minority juror is limited to the original reason offered during voir dire, new post hoc justifications being inadmissible. Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231 (2005), discussed and followed: … Accordingly, Miller-El II… 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State v. Kelly J. McCredie, 2010AP1179-CR, District 2, 3/2/11 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for McCredie: William E. Schmaal, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity For purposes of 3rd-degree sexual assault, § 940.225(3), the actor cannot obtain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
court of appeals decision; for Sellhausen: Byron C. Lichstein; case activity Issues (formulated by On Point): Whether a trial judge has a sua sponte duty to strike a prosepctive juror who is an in-law of the judge. Whether defense counsel’s use of a peremptory strike to remove the judge’s in-law renders harmless any error in the… Read more
State v. Bradley A. Brandsma, 2010AP1429-CR , District 4, 12/23/10 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Brandsma: Anthony J. Jurek; case activity; Brandsma BiC; State Resp.; Reply Trial courts have “very broad discretion” under § 972.12 to allow a deliberating jury to separate overnight before returning to resume deliberations; court of appeals rejects… Read more
State v. Sharon A. Sellhausen, 2010 WI App 175, reversed, 2012 WI 5; for Sellhausen: Byron C. Lichstein; case activity ¶1 Sharon Sellhausen appeals her jury conviction based on the presence of the presiding judge’s daughter-in-law on the panel of potential jurors. The daughter-in-law was not seated on the jury because Sellhausen’s… 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
