Criminal Law Criminal LawState v. Mitchell, 169 Wis. 2d 153, 485 N.W.2d 807 (1992)A defendant convicted of aggravated battery received an enhanced sentence under Wisconsin’s hate crimes statute because he intentionally selected his victim based on race. The majority declared that the statute violated the defendant’s First Amendment right to freedom of thought. Abrahamson dissented. She said that the statute prohibited conduct, not beliefs or expression. “Bigots are free to think and express themselves as they wish, except they may not engage in criminal conduct in furtherance of their beliefs.” In a unanimous opinion, the United States Supreme Court adopted Abrahamson’s view of the law and upheld the statute. Wisconsin v. Mitchell, 508 U.S. 476 (1993).Criminal LawState v. Richards, 201 Wis. 2d 845, 549 N.W.2d 218 (1996)In this case, the majority opinion held that police officers are never required to knock and announce their presence before entering a home to execute a search warrant in a felony drug investigation. Justice Abrahamson filed a concurring opinion arguing that the 4th Amendment does not permit a blanket exception to the “knock and announce” requirement, but the facts of this case permitted a “no-knock” entry. The United States Supreme Court sided with Justice Abrahamson and reversed the majority opinion. Richards v. Wisconsin, 520 U.S. 385 (1997).Criminal LawNew FederalismState v. Forbush, 2011 WI 25, 332 Wis. 2d 620, 796 N.W.2d 741Wisconsin long recognized that if the State charged a person with a crime, and the person had retained or appointed counsel, the 6th Amendment precluded the police from questioning him or her. This case addressed a new United States Supreme Court decision, which held that the 6th Amendment permits police to question a person charged with a crime unless he invokes the right to counsel. Wisconsin’s justices could not agree on a majority opinion. Abrahamson, one of the nation’s leading proponents of “new federalism,” filed a concurrence arguing that Article I, §7 of the Wisconsin Constitution should be interpreted to continue the longstanding rule because it better protects the right to counsel.Criminal LawNew FederalismState v. Pallone, 2000 WI 77, 236 Wis.2d 162, 613 N.W.2d 568Under the “new federalism” doctrine, the United States Constitution establishes minimum individual rights, but state courts may interpret their own constitutions as providing greater rights. Following New York v. Belton, 453 U.S. 454 (1981), a majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that when officers arrest the driver of a car, the 4th Amendment permits them to search the entire car including containers, purses, bags or luggage in the passenger compartment. Abrahamson dissented arguing that the scope of warrantless searches had reached a shockingly low standard and that, under “new federalism”, Article 1, §11 of the Wisconsin Constitution can and should be construed to preclude police from searching passenger areas of a car without a warrant, and that therefore Wisconsin should reject Belton. Ten years later, the United States Supreme Court rejected the majority’s understanding of the 4th Amendment, which prompted the Wisconsin Supreme Court to overrule Pallone. See State v. Dearborn, 2010 WI 84, 327 Wis. 2d 252, 786 N.W.2d 97.Criminal LawState v. Calvin Boggess, 115 Wis. 2d 443, 340 N.W.2d 516 (1983)In this case, the majority opinion held that after receiving an anonymous tip about possible child abuse, the State could conduct a warrantless search based on the emergency exception to the warrant requirement. Abrahamson’s dissent noted that prompt investigation of suspected child abuse is important. However, the State never claimed that an emergency existed. Absent an immediate danger, the 4th Amendment prevents police from entering a person’s home without a warrant. The United States Supreme Court later vindicated her understanding of the 4th Amendment in Brigham City, Utah v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398 (2006). Return to Opinion Categories
Criminal LawState v. Mitchell, 169 Wis. 2d 153, 485 N.W.2d 807 (1992)A defendant convicted of aggravated battery received an enhanced sentence under Wisconsin’s hate crimes statute because he intentionally selected his victim based on race. The majority declared that the statute violated the defendant’s First Amendment right to freedom of thought. Abrahamson dissented. She said that the statute prohibited conduct, not beliefs or expression. “Bigots are free to think and express themselves as they wish, except they may not engage in criminal conduct in furtherance of their beliefs.” In a unanimous opinion, the United States Supreme Court adopted Abrahamson’s view of the law and upheld the statute. Wisconsin v. Mitchell, 508 U.S. 476 (1993).
Criminal LawState v. Richards, 201 Wis. 2d 845, 549 N.W.2d 218 (1996)In this case, the majority opinion held that police officers are never required to knock and announce their presence before entering a home to execute a search warrant in a felony drug investigation. Justice Abrahamson filed a concurring opinion arguing that the 4th Amendment does not permit a blanket exception to the “knock and announce” requirement, but the facts of this case permitted a “no-knock” entry. The United States Supreme Court sided with Justice Abrahamson and reversed the majority opinion. Richards v. Wisconsin, 520 U.S. 385 (1997).
Criminal LawNew FederalismState v. Forbush, 2011 WI 25, 332 Wis. 2d 620, 796 N.W.2d 741Wisconsin long recognized that if the State charged a person with a crime, and the person had retained or appointed counsel, the 6th Amendment precluded the police from questioning him or her. This case addressed a new United States Supreme Court decision, which held that the 6th Amendment permits police to question a person charged with a crime unless he invokes the right to counsel. Wisconsin’s justices could not agree on a majority opinion. Abrahamson, one of the nation’s leading proponents of “new federalism,” filed a concurrence arguing that Article I, §7 of the Wisconsin Constitution should be interpreted to continue the longstanding rule because it better protects the right to counsel.
Criminal LawNew FederalismState v. Pallone, 2000 WI 77, 236 Wis.2d 162, 613 N.W.2d 568Under the “new federalism” doctrine, the United States Constitution establishes minimum individual rights, but state courts may interpret their own constitutions as providing greater rights. Following New York v. Belton, 453 U.S. 454 (1981), a majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that when officers arrest the driver of a car, the 4th Amendment permits them to search the entire car including containers, purses, bags or luggage in the passenger compartment. Abrahamson dissented arguing that the scope of warrantless searches had reached a shockingly low standard and that, under “new federalism”, Article 1, §11 of the Wisconsin Constitution can and should be construed to preclude police from searching passenger areas of a car without a warrant, and that therefore Wisconsin should reject Belton. Ten years later, the United States Supreme Court rejected the majority’s understanding of the 4th Amendment, which prompted the Wisconsin Supreme Court to overrule Pallone. See State v. Dearborn, 2010 WI 84, 327 Wis. 2d 252, 786 N.W.2d 97.
Criminal LawState v. Calvin Boggess, 115 Wis. 2d 443, 340 N.W.2d 516 (1983)In this case, the majority opinion held that after receiving an anonymous tip about possible child abuse, the State could conduct a warrantless search based on the emergency exception to the warrant requirement. Abrahamson’s dissent noted that prompt investigation of suspected child abuse is important. However, the State never claimed that an emergency existed. Absent an immediate danger, the 4th Amendment prevents police from entering a person’s home without a warrant. The United States Supreme Court later vindicated her understanding of the 4th Amendment in Brigham City, Utah v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398 (2006).