State v. Christopher D. Wilson, 2020AP1014-CR, District 1, 5/11/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); PfR granted 11/17/21; case activity (including briefs) Police lawfully entered Wilson’s backyard under the “knock and talk” exception to the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement. The officers were investigating a 911 call of an erratic driver. They found the car described by… Read more
C. Warrant unnecessary
State v. Scott William Forrett, 2021 WI App 31, petition for review granted, 9/14/21, affirmed, 2022 WI 37; case activity (including briefs) Wisconsin permits a driver’s prior refusal to submit to a warrantless blood test as a criminal penalty enhancer for a subsequent OWI. In an open and shut opinion that is recommended for publication… Read more
State v. B.W.R., 2020AP1726, District 2, 4/28/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity The odor of marijuana gave police probable cause to believe evidence of a drug crime would be found in B.W.R.’s home and the odor plus the occupants’ awareness the police were knocking gave the police reason to conclude the evidence would… Read more
State v. Daniel J. Van Linn, 2019AP1317, review granted 4/27/21; case activity (including briefs) Issue presented: After Daniel Van Linn was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, a sheriff’s deputy ordered his blood drawn for testing. This draw was illegal, and the circuit court excluded its fruit. After the suppression decision, the prosecutor applied for a subpoena… Read more
State v. Davonta J. Dillard, 2020AP999, 4/13/21, District 1, (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity (including briefs) Officers patrolling in Milwaukee noticed a vehicle idling and apparently unoccupied. One approached the vehicle and shined his flashlight through a window; he saw a person (Dillard) in the back seat who immediately ducked out of view… Read more
State v. Kevin M. Jereczek, 2021 WI App 30; case activity (including briefs) Police suspected Jereczek’s son in a sexual assault and thought there might be evidence on the family desktop computer. They asked Jereczek if they could search the machine; he agreed but limited his permission to the son’s account. The examiner, Behling, didn’t… Read more
State v. Kendell Marcel White, 2020AP588-CR, District 1, 2/2/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity (including briefs) In the course of a traffic stop based on a bad parking job, excessively tinted windows, and no visible plates, police searched the car and found a concealed weapon. The court of appeals holds the search was… Read more
Caniglia v. Strom, USSC No. 20-157, cert granted 11/20/20 Question presented: Whether the “community caretaking” exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement extends to the home. Lower court decision: 953 F.3d 112 (1st Cir. 2020). Docket Scotusblog page (including links to filings and commentary) The Supreme Court announced the “community caretaking” exception to the warrant… Read more
