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Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

By: Derek Hawkins//July 5, 2017//

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

By: Derek Hawkins//July 5, 2017//

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WI Supreme Court

Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Heather Steinhardt

Case No.: 2017 WI 62

Focus: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Steinhardt argues that her convictions for both failure to protect a child from sexual assault contrary to Wis. Stat. § 948.02(3) (2011-12) and first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13 as a party to a crime contrary to Wis. Stat. §§ 948.02(1)(e) and 939.05 violated the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the United States Constitution and Wisconsin Constitution. Therefore, she asks this court to vacate her conviction for failure to protect a child. In addition, she argues that she received ineffective assistance of counsel because her counsel never alerted her to the potential double jeopardy claim. She asks this court to remand her case for a hearing to determine whether her counsel was ineffective. We hold that Steinhardt’s conviction for failure to protect a child from sexual assault does not violate double jeopardy because failure to protect a child from sexual assault and first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13 as a party to a crime are not identical in fact. Moreover, we determine that Steinhardt failed to overcome the presumption that the legislature intended cumulative punishments for her conduct, given that her conduct consisted of two separate acts. We also hold that Steinhardt’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel fails because her counsel could not be deficient for failing to advise her of a potential double jeopardy claim that does not exist.

Affirmed

Dissent: Abrahamson, A.W. Bradley

Concurring:

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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.

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