MONTHLY STATISTICAL REPORT
MARCH 2010
This statistical report presents information about the case filings and dispositions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court during the month of March 2010 and to date for the term that began on September 1, 2009.
Opinions Issued
by the Court
The Supreme Court issued opinions resolving 9 cases in March. Information about these opinions, including the Court’s dispositions and the names of the authoring justices, can be found on the attached table.
March
2010 Term to Date
Total number of cases resolved by opinion .............................. 9 28
Attorney disciplinary cases................................................. 5 21
Judicial disciplinary cases................................................... 0 0
Civil cases......................................................................... 2 3
Criminal cases .................................................................. 2 4
Petitions for Review
A total of 59 petitions for review were filed during the month. A petition for review asks the Supreme Court to review the decision of the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction is discretionary, meaning that review is granted in selected cases only. In March, the Supreme Court disposed of 97 petitions for review, of which 7 petitions were granted. The Supreme Court currently has 172 petitions for review pending.
March
2010 Term to Date
Petitions for Review filed.......................................................... 59 411
Civil cases......................................................................... 26 201
Criminal cases................................................................... 33 210
Petition for Review dispositions................................................ 97 479
Civil cases (petitions granted)............................................. 51 (3) 246 (25)
Criminal cases (petitions granted)....................................... 46 (4) 233 (14)
Petitions for
Bypass
In March, the Supreme Court received no petitions for bypass and disposed of 1 petition for bypass. In a petition for bypass, a party requests that the Supreme Court take jurisdiction of an appeal or other proceeding pending in the Court of Appeals. A matter appropriate for bypass is usually one which meets one or more of the criteria for review by the Supreme Court and one the Supreme Court concludes it will ultimately choose to consider regardless of how the Court of Appeals might decide the issues. A petition for bypass may also be granted where there is a clear need to hasten the ultimate appellate decision. The Supreme Court currently has no petitions for bypass pending.
March
2010 Term to Date
Petitions for Bypass filed.......................................................... 0 9
Civil cases......................................................................... 0 9
Criminal cases................................................................... 0 0
Petition for Bypass dispositions................................................ 1 12
Civil cases (petitions granted)............................................. 1 (0) 10 (1)
Criminal cases (petitions granted)....................................... 0 (0) 2 (0)
Requests for
Certification
During March 2010, the Supreme Court received no requests for certification and disposed of one request for certification. In a request for certification, the Court of Appeals asks the Supreme Court to exercise its appellate jurisdiction before the Court of Appeals hears the matter. A request for certification is decided on the basis of the same criteria as a petition to bypass. The Supreme Court currently has 1 request for certification pending.
March
2010 Term to Date
Requests for Certification filed.................................................. 0 7
Civil cases......................................................................... 0 6
Criminal cases................................................................... 0 1
Request for Certification dispositions........................................ 1 8
Civil cases (requests granted)............................................. 1 (1) 6 (6)
Criminal cases (requests granted)....................................... 0 (0) 2 (0)
Regulatory
Matters, Supervisory Writs, and Original Actions
During the month, a total of 6 matters within the regulatory jurisdiction of the Court (bar admission, lawyer discipline, and judicial discipline) were filed, and one such case was reopened. The Supreme Court also received 10 petitions for supervisory writ, which ask the Supreme Court to order the Court of Appeals or a circuit court to take a certain action in a case. One original action was filed. An original action is a petition asking the Supreme Court to take jurisdiction over a particular matter. When an opinion is issued in these cases, the disposition is included in “Opinions Issued by the Court” above; otherwise, the case is disposed of by order and is included in the totals below. The Supreme Court currently has 22 regulatory matters and 16 petitions for supervisory writ pending.
March
2010 Term to Date
Filings
Attorney discipline (including reopened cases).......................... 7 23
Judicial discipline..................................................................... 0 1
Bar admission.......................................................................... 0 0
Petitions for Supervisory Writ.................................................. 10 34
Other (including Original Actions)............................................. 1 5
Dispositions
by Order
Attorney discipline................................................................... 2 9
Judicial discipline..................................................................... 0 0
Bar admission.......................................................................... 0 0
Petitions for Supervisory Writ.................................................. 10 39
Other (including Original Actions)............................................. 3 7
DECISIONS BY THE
OPINIONS ISSUED DURING MARCH 2010
ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE CASES
Docket No. Title Date
|
2006AP001021-D |
Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) v. Michael A. Gral Reinstatement Granted Per Curiam[1] |
03/09/2010 |
|
2008AP002366-D |
OLR v. Jeffrey T. Roethe Public Reprimand Per Curiam |
03/24/2010 |
|
2008AP002043-D |
OLR v. David G. Merriam 90 Day Suspension Per Curiam |
03/25/2010 |
|
1997AP003862-D |
Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility v. Nancy A. Schlieve Reinstatement Denied Per Curiam |
03/30/2010 |
|
2008AP001416-D |
OLR v. John R. Loew 60 Day Suspension Per Curiam |
03/30/2010 |
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES
Docket No. Title Date
|
2008AP001385 |
Volvo Trucks Court of Appeals decision affirmed. Majority Opinion: Abrahamson, C.J. |
03/11/2010 |
|
2007AP2767-CR |
State v. John A. Wood Circuit Court orders affirmed. Majority Opinion: Crooks, J. Dissent: Abrahamson, C.J., joined by Bradley, J. |
03/19/2010 |
|
2007AP1011-CR |
State v. James W. Smith Court of Appeals decision affirmed. Majority Opinion: Ziegler, J. Dissent: Bradley, J., joined by Abrahamson, C.J. |
03/19/2010 |
|
2008AP0010 |
Mark J. Solowicz v. Forward Court of Appeals decision affirmed. Majority Opinion: Roggensack, J. Concurrence: Abrahamson, C.J. Concurrence: Bradley, J., joined by Prosser, J. Concurrence: Prosser, J. |
03/24/2010 |
[1] “Per Curiam” means “by the Court.” Opinions issued per curiam are handed down by the Court as a whole.