by admin
on January 20, 2024
R.G. v. J.J., 2023AP630, 1/9/24, District 3 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
The father here–whom the court calls “Jacob”–appeals the termination of his parental rights to his son, “Hank.” About a year and a half after Hank was born, Jacob went to prison for sexual assault of a different child. Around this time, Jacob and his ex-wife, “Rita,” stipulated in their divorce proceeding that Jacob would have no placement of Hank “until further order of the court.” About three and a half years later, Rita moved to terminate Jacob’s parental rights to Hank, alleging among other things that he’d been denied physical placement for more than a year under Wis. Stat. § 48.415(4). Jacob principally argues his agreement to forego placement while he was incarcerated doesn’t constitute a “denial,” so the statutory ground doesn’t apply. [continue reading…]
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by admin
on January 19, 2024
State v. Wayne L. Timm, 2023AP351, 1/19/24, District 4 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity (including briefs)
The police thought Timm might be responsible for a string of burglaries in the area, and so were looking out for his vehicle. When an officer spotted it one night, he pulled it over for going 31 in a 25. Shining his flashlight into the car, the officer saw the flat end of a tire iron such as could be used to pry things open; the iron was partly covered by a pair of jeans. He searched the vehicle and discovered more potentially “burglarious” tools. Based in part on this evidence, the police secured a GPS warrant for Timm’s car. The GPS tracking led to the discovery of evidence connecting him to specific burglaries. He moved to suppress the search of his car; when that was denied, he entered a plea. [continue reading…]
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by admin
on January 17, 2024
State v. D.K., 2023AP292-293, 1/3/24, District I (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
Despite a novel challenge as to the integrity of his plea, COA rejects “Daniel’s” arguments and affirms in this TPR appeal. [continue reading…]
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by admin
on January 15, 2024
Waukesha County v. M.A.C., 2023AP533, petition for review of an unpublished court of appeals decision granted 12/11/23; reversed 7/5/24 case activity (including briefs)
Showing that SCOW’s interest in 51 appeals remains unabated, SCOW has accepted review of a big case that could result in the overturning of relatively recent precedent.
[continue reading…]
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by admin
on January 10, 2024
Douglas County v. M.L, 2022AP141, 12/28/23, District III (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
Faced with a challenge to the circuit court’s competency in this protective placement appeal, COA holds that the appellant has forfeited his challenge and therefore affirms.
[continue reading…]
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by admin
on January 9, 2024
Manitowoc County HSD v. K.R., 2022AP1975-78, 12/27/23, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
Presented with a confusing pro se attack on permanency orders entered in these underlying CHIPS cases, COA affirms largely because it cannot ascertain the nature of the appellant’s challenge.
[continue reading…]
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by admin
on January 9, 2024
The court of appeals issued the final two publication orders of the year on November 29, 2023, and December 21, 2023. Two criminal law related decision are included in the orders:
State v. John J. Drachenberg, 2023 WI App 61 (holding that the “execution” of a search warrant does not include forensic analysis that can occur weeks or months later)
State v. Antonio G. Ramirez, Jr., 2023 WI App 63 (reversing order granting defendant a new trial and holding that either the admission fo evidence against defedant was not erroneous or that if it was any errors were harmless)
Petitions for review are pending in both cases.
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by admin
on January 9, 2024
State v. Dustin J. VanderGalien, 2023AP890-CR, 12/29/23, District 4 (recommended for publication); case activity
VanderGalien pled no contest to three counts stemming from a fatal motor vehicle crash after a non-impairing cocaine metabolite (benzoylecgonine or “BE”) was detected in his blood hours after the incident. The court of appeals rejects his facial challenge to the statute, Wis. Stat. § 340.01(50m)(c), which includes BE as a restricted controlled substance under the motor vehicle code. The court of appeals explains that “the inclusion of cocaine or any of its metabolites in the definition of a restricted controlled substance for purposes of prosecution under the Wisconsin motor vehicle code bears a rational relationship to the purpose or objective of the statutory scheme,” which is to combat drugged driving. Op., ¶30. [continue reading…]
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