By: Derek Hawkins//April 23, 2019//
WI Court of Appeals – District IV
Case Name: Rock County v. Brenda E. Marshall
Case No.: 2019AP219
Officials: BLANCHARD, J.
Focus: Statutory Interpretation
Brenda Marshall, pro se, appeals a judgment of conviction, resulting from a trial to the court. The conviction is for “following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” See WIS. STAT. § 346.14(1m). Marshall does not offer a developed argument. I could reject her appeal on that ground. But in Marshall’s favor I assume that she intends to make the following two, closely related arguments: (1) the circuit court erred in failing to take into account the speed of a vehicle that Marshall rear-ended just before the collision, which is one fact to be considered under § 346.14(1m); (2) the circuit court clearly erred in finding that the County proved that Marshall failed to maintain a reasonable and prudent distance under the relevant circumstances. I reject these two possible arguments and affirm.