In our ongoing effort to improve On Point, we have begun to edit the index of posts on our Archive page so that it is more user-friendly and easier for readers to find the elusive “Defense wins!” on specific issues. Chapter 51 is our guinea pig. [continue reading…]
State v. Danny L. Waters, 2018AP1455, District 4, 5/2/19 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity (including briefs)
The argument Waters made at his refusal hearing wasn’t sufficiently clear to preserve the issue for appeal. [continue reading…]
E.M.K. v. Z.T.R., 2018AP1896, District 2, 5/1/19 (1-judge opinion, ineligible for publication); case activity
That’s the upshot of this court of appeals decision. Before terminating a biological father’s parental rights, there must be a finding that he “failed to assume parental responsibility” under §48.415(6). But what if there is a dispute about whether he is actually the biological father of the child? The court of appeals holds that if only one other guy was having sex with the mother when she became pregnant then the unverified, biological father had “reason to believe” he was in fact the father and should assume parental responsibility for the child. [continue reading…]
State v. Sean R. Wolfe and State v. Donald Ray Ward, 2019 WI App 32; case activity here and here .
¶1 We hold that under established principles of finality, when a circuit court denies a RULE 809.30 postconviction motion in part and grants the motion in part such that further proceedings are required, an appeal cannot be taken until those further proceedings are completed. Because the judgments of conviction and the circuit court orders from which these appeals are taken do not dispose of the entire matter in litigation between the parties, we lack jurisdiction.
On April 24, 2019, the court of appeals ordered the publication of the following decisions:
Winnebago County v. C.S., 2019 WI App 16 (involuntary medication of committed prisoners)
Brown County Human Services v. B.P. & T.F., 2019 WI App 18 (requirements for pleading “abandonment” under § 48.415; summary judgment reversed)
State v. Alberto E. Rivera, 2018AP952-CR, 4/30, District 1 (not recommended for publication); case activity (including briefs).
The State charged Rivera with a homicide and an attempted homicide that occurred in 2015. Before trial, it moved to introduce “other acts” evidence–a homicide that Rivera committed in 1997. The trial court tentatively denied the motion. But then Rivera’s counsel made a “strategic” decision to offer the evidence as part of his defense. So, as you might guess, the appellate challenge regarding the admission of this evidence failed. [continue reading…]
State v. John Patrick Wright, 2019 WI 45, reversing an unpublished court of appeals decision; case activity (including briefs)
The supreme court holds (again) that, as part of any routine traffic stop, police may ask a driver whether he or she is carrying a weapon. [continue reading…]
The transcript of the oral argument in Mitchell v. Wisconsin doesn’t do Andy Hinkel’s argument justice. He stayed impressively cool under tough questioning. Hear for yourself here! If you prefer an eyewitness account of Andy’s argument, click here. His wife, Shelley Fite, a federal defender, blogged about it on the Appellate Section’s new blog.
