N. Exculpatory

State v. Thomas R. McEssey, 2011AP2668-CR, District 4, 9/20/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity The police inadvertently destroyed a recording of a phone conversation between McEssey and the alleged victim. (A separate, but partial recording – containing only the latter’s side of the conversation – was made, misplaced, and belatedly… Read more

State v. Michael Anthony Lock, 2012 WI App 99 (recommended for publication); case activity Other-Acts Evidence  Lock was tried and convicted for homicide, kidnapping and possession with intent to deliver. The State elicited testimony from numerous witnesses to the effect that Lock headed a vast criminal enterprise, of which these crimes were a part in… Read more

State v. Christopher J. Anderson, 2009AP3053-CR, District 1, 3/27/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); pro se; case activity; prior history: 2008AP504-CR Anderson’s prior appeal established that “the trial court erred when it denied his request for an in camera review of [police] personnel files because he had both a constitutional and statutory right to… Read more

Juan Smith v. Cain, USSC No. 10-8145, 1/10/12 Statements by the sole eyewitness, who identified Smith at trial as one of the perpetrators, that in fact he couldn’t see the faces of the perpetrators were “material” to determination of Smith’s guilt. Therefore, the state’s failure to disclose these statements before trial violated Smith’s due process… Read more

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); pro se; case activity Plea Withdrawal – Nelson/Bentley Hearing – Exculpatory Evidence  Ardell wasn’t entitled to a hearing on his postconviction plea-withdrawal motion premised on alleged suppression of exculpatory evidence. The court holds that, even assuming that the State did withhold exculpatory evidence, the motion failed to… Read more

State v. Edward Beck, 2010AP872-CR, District 4, 10/20/11 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); pro se; case activity Circuit court is under no obligation to seek extension of the § 809.30(2) limitation period for its ruling on a postconviction motion. ¶6        Beck reads too much into the 2001 amendment to Wis. Stat. § 809.30(2)(i).  The amendment simply added language… Read more

seventh circuit court of appeals decision, denying habeas relief in Wis COA No. 2008AP398-CR Habeas – Duty to Preserve Apparent Exculpatory Evidence  Pretrial destruction of car driven by McCarthy didn’t violate State’s duty to preserve exculpatory evidence, the court rejecting McCarthy’s argument that the destruction unconstitutionally impaired his affirmative defense of brake failure (against charge of causing great bodily harm by… Read more