State v. Debra A.E., 188 Wis. 2d 111, 523 N.W.2d 727 (1994)

Wisconsin has a law designed to protect the constitutional rights of defendants deemed mentally incompetent at the time of trial or sentencing, but it has no law to protect the rights of mentally ill defendants who are pursuing appeals. Abrahamson, writing for a unanimous court, established the procedures that courts and lawyers must follow when a defendant involved in post-conviction and appellate proceedings appears to be mentally incompetent. Many courts around the country cite this decision.