Recent Articles from WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF
Sentencing Guidelines
Ya Yang appeals his below-guidelines sentence, arguing that the district court erred because it considered an audio file at sentencing that was not publicly available on the court’s electronic docket.
Court Error – Abuse of Discretion
Joan and Rick Scalcucci appeal a summary judgment order dismissing their personal injury suit against the City of Madison and the County of Dane (collectively, “the Municipalities”).
Sentencing Guidelines – Enhancement
Following an investigation of an Indianapolis‐based drug trafficking organization, the government secured a warrant to search Juan Zamudio’s residence, where they found large amounts of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a loaded firearm.
Abuse of Discretion – Restitution
Alex Scott Stone appeals from an order requiring him to pay restitution of $6,008.60 to the victim, M.S. Stone claims the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion in making the restitution award either in misinterpreting WIS. STAT. § 973.20 (2017-18)2 or because Stone did not have the ability to pay.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Roman T. Wise appeals from a judgment of conviction for four counts of fleeing or eluding an officer and an order of the postconviction court denying, without a hearing, his motion seeking to vacate three of his convictions on the basis that he received ineffective assistance of counsel.
Sentence Credit
This is a review of an unpublished decision of the court of appeals, State v. Lira, Nos. 2019AP691-CR & 2019AP692-CR, unpublished slip op. (Wis. Ct. App. Sep. 29, 2020), affirming in part and reversing in part the Milwaukee County circuit court's order denying Cesar Antonio Lira's motion for sentence credit.
2nd guilty plea planned in alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer
A man charged in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has agreed to plead guilty, according to documents filed Monday, giving prosecutors another insider who could be a central witness at a March trial.
Ex-justice’s Wisconsin election probe drags as critics scoff
The leader of a sprawling, taxpayer-funded probe of Joe Biden's victory in battleground Wisconsin ignited his political career in 2008 by unseating the first Black justice on the state Supreme Court, capitalizing on an ad that sparked ethics complaints and allegations of racism.
State AG races become litmus test for GOP election claims
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, a Republican, has won re-election multiple times in a state where the GOP dominates politically and, in his telling, has "a 20-year track record of calling balls and strikes fairly and squarely."
Bipartisan Wisconsin business coalition backs elections head
A bipartisan group of prominent Wisconsin business leaders is voicing support for the state's embattled elections administrator, her staff and local election officials, issuing a letter Monday backing Meagan Wolfe even as Republicans have called for her resignation and pursued investigations into how the 2020 election was run.
Prima Facie – 1st Amendment Violation – Retaliation Claim
After a steady buildup of performance problems, Beth Sweet lost her job as a customer-service representative in the clerk-treasurer’s office in the Town of Bargersville, Indiana.
Order Correcting Opinion – Rehearing Denial Order
Defendants-Appellees filed a petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc on September 2, 2021.
Legal News
- UW-Milwaukee chancellor to step down next year amid handling of Pro-Hamas protesters
- Wisconsin Republicans are improperly blocking conservation work, court says
- Man hurt when home in rural Wisconsin explodes has died, authorities say
- Wisconsin Supreme Court changes course, will allow expanded use of ballot drop boxes this fall
- Gov. Evers appoints Travis Maze as Jefferson County Sheriff
- Democrat Dora Drake wins open seat in Wisconsin state Senate
- Wisconsin joins coalition urging Supreme Court to uphold federal ghost gun regulations
- GM will pay $146 million in penalties because 5.9 million older vehicles emit excess carbon dioxide
- NFL is liable for $4,707,259,944.64 in ‘Sunday Ticket’ case
- Milwaukee Police investigating fatal downtown crash
- Milwaukee drops security personnel ordinance
- Wisconsin Supreme Court tacks on additional months to already suspended lawyer
Case Digests
- Termination of Parental Rights
- First Amendment Rights
- Termination of Parental Rights
- Late Filing
- Real Estate-Attorney Fees
- Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
- Variance-Interpretation of Zoning Ordinances
- Sentencing
- Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause-Jury Instructions
- Unlawful Collection Practices-Evidence
- Sentencing-Vindictiveness
- Prisoner Grievances-Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies