Course Description: 

The Wisconsin State Public Defender Appellate Skills Academy provides comprehensive training for public defenders and appointed private practitioners handling criminal appellate and postconviction cases in Wisconsin. The curriculum spans the complete life cycle of an appellate case under Wis. Stat. § 809.30, from initial file opening and client-centered counseling through pre-litigation ethics, postconviction discovery, evidentiary hearings, brief drafting, Court of Appeals eFiling compliance, and practice before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

List of Speakers: 

• Craig W. Albee – Attorney, Federal Defender Services of Wisconsin, Inc.
• Tom Aquino – Assistant Public Defender, Wisconsin State Public Defender Appellate Division
• Marilena David – Deputy Director, Michigan State Appellate Defender Office
• Dustin C. Haskell – Assistant Public Defender, Wisconsin State Public Defender Appellate Division
• Colleen Marion – Assistant Public Defender, Wisconsin State Public Defender Appellate Division
• Christina Plum – Chief Staff Attorney, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
• Megan Sanders-Drazen – Assistant Public Defender, Wisconsin State Public Defender Appellate Division
• Katie R. York – Appellate Division Director, State Public Defender - Administration

Course Highlights: 

• Client Advocacy & Ethics: Managing client autonomy, risk advising, and no-merit options.
• Appellate Procedure: Navigating § 809.30 deadlines, post-judgment motions, and eFiling rules.
• Discovery & Hearings: Conducting postconviction discovery and examining trial counsel in Machner hearings.
• Briefing & SCOW Practice: Framing persuasive legal issues, drafting Petitions for Review, and oral argument prep.

Case Law Referenced: 

• Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370 (2010)
• Brown v. MR Group, LLC, 2004 WI App 122, 274 Wis. 2d 804, 683 N.W.2d 481
• Carter v. Buesgen, 10 F.4th 715 (7th Cir. 2021)
• Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478 (1964)
• First Wisconsin National Bank of Madison v. Nicholaou, 87 Wis. 2d 360, 274 N.W.2d 704 (1979)
• In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Thompson, 2014 WI 25, 353 Wis. 2d 556, 847 N.W.2d 793
• Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745 (1983)
• Lego v. Twomey, 404 U.S. 477 (1972)
• Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966)
• Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412 (1986)
• People v. Arnold, 500 Mich. 938, 889 N.W.2d 237 (2016)
• People v. Buehler, 477 Mich. 18, 729 N.W.2d 230 (2007)
• People v. Butler, 199 Mich. App. 224, 501 N.W.2d 611 (1993)
• People v. Campbell, 316 Mich. App. 279, 891 N.W.2d 243 (2016)
• People v. Daoud, 462 Mich. 621, 614 N.W.2d 152 (2000)
• Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84 (2003)
• State ex rel. Flores v. State, 170 Wis. 2d 272, 488 N.W.2d 116 (Ct. App. 1992)
• State v. Allen, 2004 WI 106, 274 Wis. 2d 568, 682 N.W.2d 433
• State v. Artic, 2010 WI 83, 327 Wis. 2d 392, 786 N.W.2d 430
• State v. Brown, 2006 WI 100, 293 Wis. 2d 594, 716 N.W.2d 906
• State v. Cleghorn, 94 Wis. 2d 250, 287 N.W.2d 753 (1980)
• State v. Escalona-Naranjo, 185 Wis. 2d 168, 517 N.W.2d 157 (1994)
• State v. Felton, 110 Wis. 2d 485, 329 N.W.2d 161 (1983)
• State v. Green, 2002 WI 68, 253 Wis. 2d 356, 646 N.W.2d 298
• State v. Harris, 149 Wis. 2d 943, 440 N.W.2d 364 (1989)
• State v. Klessig, 211 Wis. 2d 194, 564 N.W.2d 716 (1997)
• State v. Kletzien, 2011 WI App 22, 331 Wis. 2d 640, 794 N.W.2d 920
• State v. Machner, 92 Wis. 2d 797, 285 N.W.2d 905 (Ct. App. 1979)
• State v. O'Brien, 223 Wis. 2d 303, 588 N.W.2d 8 (1999)
• State v. Plude, 2008 WI 58, 310 Wis. 2d 28, 751 N.W.2d 783
• State v. Roberson, 2019 WI 102, 389 Wis. 2d 190, 935 N.W.2d 813
• State v. Robertson, 2003 WI App 84, 263 Wis. 2d 349, 661 N.W.2d 105
• State v. Seay, 2002 WI App 37, 250 Wis. 2d 761, 641 N.W.2d 437
• State v. Shiffra, 175 Wis. 2d 600, 499 N.W.2d 719 (Ct. App. 1993)
• State v. Van Camp, 213 Wis. 2d 131, 569 N.W.2d 577 (1997)
• State v. Van Hout, 2009 WI App 93, 320 Wis. 2d 566, 769 N.W.2d 559
• TJX Companies, Inc. v. Superior Court, 87 Cal. App. 4th 747 (2001)