Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Pro Se Request

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WI Court of Appeals – District I

Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Billy Demond Cooper

Case No.: 2015AP2230-CR; 2015AP2231-CR; 2015AP2332-CR

Officials: Brennan and Brash, JJ., and Daniel L. LaRocque, Reserve Judge

Focus: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Pro Se Request

A jury found Billy Demond Cooper guilty of five crimes related to three separate incidents involving his ex-girlfriend, including: one count of battery to a domestic abuse injunction petitioner, as a repeater; one count of violating a domestic abuse injunction; and three counts of felony bail jumping, two of which were charged as a repeater. See WIS. STAT. §§ 940.20(1m)(a), 939.62(1)(b), 813.12(8)(a), and 946.49(1)(b) (2011-12, 2013- 14).2 All of the crimes were also designated acts of domestic violence. See WIS. STAT. § 968.075(1)(a). In these three consolidated appeals, Cooper appeals from the judgments of conviction for those five crimes and from an order denying his postconviction motion seeking a new trial. Cooper argues that he is entitled to a new trial for two reasons: (1) the trial court wrongfully denied Cooper’s request to represent himself at trial; and (2) Cooper’s trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by not presenting a better argument to support the admission of a letter in which the victim recanted the battery allegation. We reject Cooper’s arguments and affirm the judgments and order.

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.