By: Derek Hawkins//August 31, 2021//
WI Court of Appeals – District III
Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. James M. Burke
Case No.: 2020AP465-CR
Officials: Stark, P.J., Hruz and Seidl, JJ.
Focus: Abuse of Discretion – Expert Testimony
James Burke appeals a judgment of conviction, entered upon a jury’s verdict, for physical abuse of a child by intentionally causing bodily harm. Burke argues he is entitled to a new trial because the circuit court erroneously prohibited his expert witness from testifying regarding the professional understanding of the nature of memory and research on false allegations by children. We conclude the court did not erroneously exercise its discretion when it concluded the proposed expert testimony would not assist the jury. Accordingly, we affirm.