809.30 Rule (Appeals in s. 971.17 proceedings and in criminal, ch. 48, 51, 55, 938, and 980 cases).

(1) Definitions. In this subchapter:

(a) “Final adjudication" means the entry of a final judgment or order by the circuit court in a s. 971.17 proceeding, in a criminal case, or in a ch. 48, 51, 55, 938, or 980 case, other than a termination of parental rights case under s. 48.43 or a parental consent to abortion case under s. 48.375 (7).

(b) “Person" means any of the following:

1. A defendant seeking postconviction relief in a criminal case.

2. A party, other than the state, seeking postdisposition relief in a case under ch. 48, other than a termination of parental rights case under s. 48.43 or a parental consent to abortion case under s. 48.375 (7).

3. A party, other than the state, seeking postdisposition relief in a case under ch. 938.

4. A subject individual or ward seeking postdisposition relief in a s. 971.17 proceeding or a case under ch. 51, 55, or 980.

5. Any other person who may appeal under ss. 51.13 (5), 51.20 (15), or 55.20.

(c) “Postconviction relief" means an appeal or a motion for postconviction relief in a criminal case, other than an appeal, motion, or petition under ss. 302.113 (7m) or (9g), 973.19, 973.195, 973.198, 974.06, or 974.07 (2). In a ch. 980 case, the term means an appeal or a motion for postcommitment relief under s. 980.038 (4).

(d) “Postdisposition relief" means an appeal or a motion for relief under this subchapter from a circuit court's final adjudication.

(e) “Prosecutor" means a district attorney, corporation counsel, or other attorney authorized by law to represent the state in a criminal case, a proceeding under s. 971.17, or a case under ch. 48, 51, 55, 938, or 980.

(f) “Sentencing" means the imposition of a sentence, a fine, or probation in a criminal case. In a ch. 980 case, the term means the entry of an order under s. 980.06.

(2) Appeal; postconviction or postdisposition motion.

(a) Appeal procedure; counsel to continue. A person seeking postconviction relief in a criminal case; a person seeking postdisposition relief in a case under ch. 48 other than a termination of parental rights case under s. 48.43 or a parental consent to abortion case under s. 48.375 (7); or a person seeking postdisposition relief in a s. 971.17 proceeding or in a case under ch. 51, 55, 938, or 980 shall comply with this section. Counsel representing the person at sentencing or at the time of the final adjudication shall continue representation by filing a notice under par. (b) if the person desires to pursue postconviction or postdisposition relief unless counsel is discharged by the person or allowed to withdraw by the circuit court before the notice must be filed.

(b) Notice of intent to pursue postconviction or postdisposition relief. Within 20 days after the date of sentencing or final adjudication, the person shall file in circuit court and serve on the prosecutor and any other party a notice of intent to pursue postconviction or postdisposition relief. If the record discloses that sentencing or final adjudication occurred after the notice of intent was filed, the notice shall be treated as filed after sentencing or final adjudication on the day of the sentencing or final adjudication. The notice shall include all of the following:

1. The case name and number.

2. An identification of the judgment or order from which the person intends to seek postconviction or postdisposition relief and the date on which the judgment or order was entered.

3. The name and address of the person and his or her trial counsel.

4. Whether the person's trial counsel was appointed by the state public defender and, if so, whether the person's financial circumstances have materially improved since the date on which his or her indigency was determined.

5. Whether the person requests the state public defender to appoint counsel for purposes of postconviction or postdisposition relief.

6. Whether a person who does not request the state public defender to appoint counsel will represent himself or herself or will be represented by retained counsel. If the person has retained counsel to pursue postconviction or postdisposition relief, counsel's name and address shall be included.

(c) Clerk to send materials. Within 5 days after a notice under par. (b) is filed, the clerk of circuit court shall:

1. If the person requests representation by the state public defender for purposes of postconviction or postdisposition relief, send to the state public defender's appellate intake office a copy of the notice that shows the date on which it was filed or entered, a copy of the judgment or order specified in the notice that shows the date on which it was filed or entered, a list of the court reporters for each proceeding in the action in which the judgment or order was entered, and a list of those proceedings in which a transcript has been filed with the clerk of circuit court.

2. If the person does not request representation by the state public defender, send or furnish to the person, if appearing without counsel, or to the person's attorney if one has been retained, a copy of the judgment or order specified in the notice that shows the date on which it was filed or entered, a list of the court reporters for each proceeding in the action in which the judgment or order was entered, and a list of those proceedings in which a transcript has been filed with the clerk of circuit court.

(d) Indigency redetermination. Except as provided in this paragraph, whenever a person whose trial counsel is appointed by the state public defender files a notice under par. (b) requesting public defender representation for purposes of postconviction or postdisposition relief, the prosecutor may, within 5 days after the notice is served and filed, file in the circuit court and serve upon the state public defender a request that the person's indigency be redetermined before counsel is appointed or transcripts are requested. This paragraph does not apply to a child who is entitled to be represented by counsel under s. 48.23 or 938.23 or a person who is entitled to be represented by counsel under s. 51.60 (1), 55.105, or 980.03 (2) (a).

NOTE: Par. (d) is shown as affected by 2017 Wis. Acts 184 and 359 and as merged by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (2) (i).

(e) State public defender appointment of counsel; transcript and circuit court case record request. Within 30 days after the state public defender appellate intake office receives the materials from the clerk of circuit court under par. (c), the state public defender shall appoint counsel for the person and request a transcript of the court reporter's verbatim record and a copy of the circuit court case record, except that if the person's indigency must first be determined or redetermined the state public defender shall do so, appoint counsel, and request transcripts and a copy of the circuit court case record within 50 days after the state public defender appellate intake office receives the material from the clerk of circuit court under par. (c).

(f) Person not represented by public defender; transcript and circuit court case record request. A person who does not request representation by the state public defender for purposes of postconviction or postdisposition relief shall request a transcript of the court reporter's verbatim record, and may request a copy of the circuit court case record, within 30 days after filing a notice under par. (b). A person who is denied representation by the state public defender for purposes of postconviction or postdisposition relief shall request a transcript of the court reporter's verbatim record, and may request a copy of the circuit court case record, within 90 days after filing a notice under par. (b).

(fm) Transcript and circuit court case record request in chs. 48 and 938 proceedings. A child or juvenile who has filed a notice of intent to pursue relief from a judgment or order entered in a ch. 48 or 938 proceeding shall be furnished at no cost a transcript of the proceedings or as much of the transcript as is requested, and may request a copy of the circuit court case record. To obtain the transcript and circuit court case record at no cost, an affidavit must be filed stating that the person who is legally responsible for the child's or juvenile's care and support is financially unable or unwilling to purchase the transcript and a copy of the circuit court case record.

(g) Filing and service of transcript and circuit court case record.

1. The clerk of circuit court shall serve a copy of the circuit court case record on the person within 60 days after receipt of the request for the circuit court case record.

2. The court reporter shall file the transcript with the circuit court and serve a copy of the transcript on the person within 60 days of the request for the transcript. Within 20 days after the request for a transcript of postconviction or postdisposition proceedings brought under sub. (2) (h), the court reporter shall file the original with the circuit court and serve a copy of that transcript on the person. The reporter may seek an extension under s. 809.11 (7) for filing and serving the transcript.

(h) Notice of appeal, postconviction or postdisposition motion. The person shall file in circuit court and serve on the prosecutor and any other party a notice of appeal or motion seeking postconviction or postdisposition relief within 60 days after the later of the service of the transcript or circuit court case record. The person shall file a motion for postconviction or postdisposition relief before a notice of appeal is filed unless the grounds for seeking relief are sufficiency of the evidence or issues previously raised. A postconviction or postdisposition motion under this section may not be accompanied by a notice of motion and is made when filed. A notice of appeal filed under this section shall conform to the requirements set forth in s. 809.10.

(i) Order determining postconviction or postdisposition motion. Unless an extension is requested by a party or the circuit court and granted by the court of appeals, the circuit court shall determine by an order the person's motion for postconviction or postdisposition relief within 60 days after the filing of the motion or the motion is considered to be denied and the clerk of circuit court shall immediately enter an order denying the motion.

(j) Appeal from judgment and order. The person shall file in circuit court and serve on the prosecutor and any other party a notice of appeal from the judgment of conviction and sentence or final adjudication and, if necessary, from the order of the circuit court on the motion for postconviction or postdisposition relief within 20 days of the entry of the order on the postconviction or postdisposition motion. A notice of appeal filed under this section shall conform to the requirements set forth in s. 809.10. Appeals in cases under chs. 48, 51, 55, and 938 are subject to the docketing statement requirements of s. 809.10 (1) (d) and may be eligible for the expedited appeals program in the discretion of the court.

(k) Transmittal of record. Except as otherwise provided in ss. 809.14 (3) and 809.15 (4) (b) and (c), the clerk of circuit court shall transmit the record on appeal to the court of appeals as soon as prepared but in no event more than 40 days after the filing of the notice of appeal. Subsequent proceedings in the appeal are governed by the procedures for civil appeals.

(L) Appeals under s. 974.06 or 974.07. An appeal under s. 974.06 or 974.07 is governed by the procedures for civil appeals.

(3) Appeals by state or other party; appointment of counsel. In a case in which the state of Wisconsin, the representative of the public, any other party, or any person who may appeal under s. 51.13 (5), 51.20 (15), or 55.20 appeals and the person who is the subject of the case or proceeding is a child or claims to be indigent, the court shall refer the person who is the subject of the case or proceeding to the state public defender for the determination of indigency and the appointment of legal counsel under ch. 977.

(4) Motion to withdraw as appointed counsel.

(a) If postconviction, postdisposition, or appellate counsel appointed for the person under ch. 977 seeks to withdraw from the case, counsel shall serve a motion to withdraw upon the person and upon the appellate division intake unit in the Madison appellate office of the state public defender. If the motion is filed before the notice of appeal is filed, the motion shall be filed in circuit court. If the motion is filed after a notice of appeal has been filed, the motion shall be filed in the court of appeals. Service of the motion to withdraw on the state public defender is not required when the motion is filed by an assistant state public defender or when a no-merit report is filed with the motion.

(b) Within 20 days after receipt of the motion under par. (a), the state public defender shall determine whether successor counsel will be appointed for the person and shall notify the court in which the motion was filed of the state public defender's determination.

(c) Before determining the motion to withdraw, the court shall consider the state public defender's response under par. (b) and whether the person waives the right to counsel.

(d) When the motion to withdraw is filed in circuit court, appointed counsel shall prepare and serve a copy of the order determining counsel's motion to withdraw upon the person and the appellate division intake unit in the Madison appellate office of the state public defender within 14 days after the court's determination.

History: Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiii (1978); Sup. Ct. Order, 92 Wis. 2d xiii (1979); Sup. Ct. Order, 104 Wis. 2d xi (1981); 1981 c. 390 s. 252; Sup. Ct. Order, 112 Wis. 2d xvii (1985); Sup. Ct. Order, 123 Wis. 2d xi (1985); 1985 a. 332; Sup. Ct. Order, 136 Wis. 2d xxv (1987); Sup. Ct. Order, 161 Wis. 2d xiii (1991); Sup. Ct. Order No. 93-19, 179 Wis. 2d xxiii (1994); 1993 a. 16, 395, 451; 1995 a. 77; Sup. Ct. Order No. 00-02, 2001 WI 39, 242 Wis. 2d xxvii; 2001 a. 16; Sup. Ct. Order No. 02-01, 2002 WI 120, 255 Wis. 2d xiii; 2005 a. 264, 434; 2007 a. 20; Sup. Ct. Order No. 04-08, 2008 WI 108, filed 7-30-08, eff. 1-1-09; 2009 a. 26, 28, 180, 276; 2011 a. 38; 2017 a. 184, 359; Sup. Ct. Order No. 19-01, 2019 WI 44, filed 4-22-19, eff. 7-1-19; s. 13.92 (2) (i); s. 35.17 correction in (2) (d).

Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1978: Many changes are made in prior practice in criminal cases and in protective placement, juvenile and mental commitment cases. Under the former procedure counsel, usually the State Public Defender appointed by the Supreme Court, was required to order a transcript, wait for its preparation, review it, present to the trial court by a post-trial motion any issues which the defendant desired to raise on appeal even if the issue had been presented to and decided by the court during the trial, [see State v. Charette, 51 Wis. 2d 531, 187 N.W.2d 203 (1971) and State v. Wuensch, 69 Wis. 2d 467, 230 N.W.2d 665 (1975)], and after the court ruled on the motion, appeal both the original conviction and the denial of the post-trial motion to the Supreme Court. Often a year or more elapsed between the sentencing of the defendant and the docketing of his appeal in the Supreme Court. This delay, combined with the delay in the Supreme Court caused by its backlog, often resulted in an appeal not being decided by the Supreme Court until two or three years after conviction.

Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: Sub. (1) (h) is amended to increase from 10 to 20 days the period for a defendant to file a notice of appeal after entry of a trial court's order denying postconviction relief. It is sometimes difficult to meet the present 10-day requirement for filing an appeal under this subsection due to the delays that may occur in the prompt delivery by mail of the order of the trial court on a motion for postconviction relief. Increasing the time period by 10 days does not unduly lengthen the appellate process for determination of an appeal on its merits. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1980]

Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1981: Sub. (1) (e) is amended to increase from 40 to 60 days the period for the court reporter to complete and serve a copy of the transcript on the defendant and sub. (1) (f) is amended to increase from 30 to 60 days the period for the defendant to either file a notice of appeal or motion seeking postconviction relief. The previous time periods were often insufficient for preparation of the transcript and for review of the transcript and record by the defendant determining which, if any, postconviction proceedings to commence.

Judicial Council Note, 1984: Requiring that the appellate process be initiated by filing a notice in the trial court within 20 days after sentencing is intended to:

Judicial Council Note, 1986: Sub. (1) is amended to clarify the application of the statute when the appeal is taken from the final judgment or order in a non-criminal case.

Sub. (2) (fm) is prior s. 48.47 (2), renumbered for more logical placement in the statutes. [Re Order eff. 7-1-87]

Judicial Council Note, 2001: Subtitles have been added. Subsection (2) (e) was revised to amend the time for appointing appellate counsel and to clarify that a defendant represented by appointed counsel must request a copy of the circuit court case record from the circuit court. Subsection (2) (f) was amended to clarify that a defendant not represented by the state public defender may request a copy of the circuit court case record from the circuit court. The second sentence of sub. (2) (f) sets a time limit for a defendant who has unsuccessfully sought public defender representation under sub. (2) (e) to request the transcripts and circuit court case record. Subsection (2) (g) was amended to require the circuit court clerk to send the circuit court case record to the defendant within 60 days after receipt of the request. Subsection (2) (h) was revised to require the defendant to file the notice of appeal either within 60 days after service of the last transcript or the circuit court case record, whichever occurs later. The second sentence of sub. (2) (h) specifies that a notice of motion shall not be filed with a s. 809.30 postconviction motion. If the circuit court grants a hearing on the motion, the circuit court will notify the parties of the date.

Judicial Council Note, 2002: The terminology throughout s. 809.30 is amended to clarify that persons seeking to appeal final judgments or orders in criminal, ch. 48 (child or unborn child in need of protection or services, guardianship or adoption), ch. 51 (civil commitment), ch. 55 (protective placement), and ch. 938 (delinquency or juvenile justice) cases must comply with this rule. Prior language referred to all such persons as defendants and to all appeal proceedings as “postconviction," and was confusing to parties and practitioners.

NOTE: Sup. Ct. Order No. 04-08, 2008 WI 108, states, “The Judicial Council Committee Comments are not adopted, but will be published and may be consulted for guidance in interpreting and applying Wis. Stat. ss. 809.30, 809.32 and 809.62."

Judicial Council Committee Comment, July 2008: The amendment to s. 809.30 (2) (b) allows a notice of intent that is filed too early to be deemed filed on the date that a judgment and sentence or other final adjudication is filed. This is consistent with the procedure applicable to civil appeals under s. 808.04 (8). [Re Order No. 08-04 effective January 1, 2009]

The court of appeals did not abuse its discretion in refusing to allow a convicted felon to pursue a late appeal. State v. Argiz, 101 Wis. 2d 546, 305 N.W.2d 124 (1981).

The limitation period under sub. (1) (f) [now sub. (2) (h)] cannot begin to run until the entry of an appealable order. In Interest of M. T. 108 Wis. 2d 410, 321 N.W.2d 289 (1982).

For issues on appeal to be considered matters of right, postconviction motions must be made except in challenges to sufficiency of the evidence under s. 974.02 (2). State v. Monje, 109 Wis. 2d 138, 325 N.W.2d 695 (1982).

Because double jeopardy precludes retrial if an appellate court finds a conviction is not supported by sufficient evidence, the court must decide a claim of insufficiency even if there are other grounds for reversal that would not preclude retrial. State v. Ivy, 119 Wis. 2d 591, 350 N.W.2d 622 (1984).

The court may for good cause grant extensions under this section. State v. Harris, 149 Wis. 2d 943, 440 N.W.2d 364 (1989).

A defendant unable to assist counsel or make decisions committed by law to the defendant with a degree of rational reasoning is incompetent to pursue postconviction relief. The process to be followed when a competency issue arises is discussed. State v. Debra A. E. 188 Wis. 2d 111, 523 N.W.2d 727 (Ct. App. 1994).

If a defendant is represented by counsel, the defendant is statutorily barred from proceeding pro se during the pendency of an appeal. State v. Redmond, 203 Wis. 2d 13, 552 N.W.2d 115 (Ct. App. 1996), 94-1544.

A criminal defendant may bring a motion under sub. (2) (h) for a new trial based on newly-discovered evidence. The defendant has the burden of establishing the 5 criteria enumerated by the court by clear and convincing evidence. State v. Brunton, 203 Wis. 2d 195, 552 N.W.2d 452 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-0111.

When a criminal appeal is taken from a plea bargain, it brings the entire judgment before the appellate court. When a plea bargain is negated, the proper disposition is to remand the cause for further proceedings on the original charges. State v. Briggs, 218 Wis. 2d 61, 579 N.W.2d 783 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-1558.

A defendant subject to a post-probation revocation sentence cannot use this section and s. 973.19 (1) (b) to raise issues that go to the original judgment, but the defendant may take a direct appeal from a subsequent judgment in order to fully litigate issues initially raised by the resentencing. State v. Scaccio, 2000 WI App 265, 240 Wis. 2d 95, 622 N.W.2d 449, 99-3101.

Section 973.195 creates a separate and specific statutory procedure for requesting a sentence reduction that should be used in place of this section whenever the basis for the modification is a change in law or procedure related to sentencing effective after the inmate was sentenced that would have resulted in a shorter term of a confinement. State v. Torres, 2003 WI App 199, 267 Wis. 2d 213, 670 N.W.2d 400, 03-0233.

Neither sub. (4) or other law requires that a motion to withdraw be filed any time an attorney appointed by the public defender terminates his or her postconviction/appellate representation of a defendant. Counsel for the defendant did not render ineffective assistance by closing his file without first obtaining court permission to withdraw or otherwise seeking a contemporaneous judicial determination that his client had knowingly waived either the right to appeal or the right to counsel. Ford v. Holm, 2004 WI App 22, 269 Wis. 2d 810, 676 N.W.2d 500, 02-1828.

When a defendant seeks modification of the sentence imposed at resentencing, sub. (2) and s. 973.19 require the defendant to file a postconviction motion with the circuit court before taking an appeal. These rules on sentence modification apply even though the sentence imposed at resentencing is identical to a previous sentence and regardless of whether a defendant challenges the original sentence, a sentence after revocation, or the sentence imposed at resentencing. State v. Walker, 2006 WI 82, 292 Wis. 2d 326, 716 N.W.2d 498, 04-2820.

If a defendant does not want a no-merit report, the defendant has 3 choices: 1) fire counsel and proceed pro se; 2) fire counsel and hire private counsel if financially feasible; or 3) direct that the file be closed. A defendant cannot: 1) insist that appointed counsel pursue an advocacy appeal under s. 809.30 despite counsel's view that an appeal would lack arguable merit; 2) alternatively insist on different appointed counsel who will write a brief the way the defendant wants it written; or 3) forbid appointed counsel from filing a no-merit report and then claim that counsel has abandoned him or her when counsel moves to withdraw from representation. Van Hout v. Endicott, 2006 WI App 196, 296 Wis. 2d 580, 724 N.W. 2d 692, 04-1192.

Wisconsin affords a convicted person the right to postconviction counsel. It would be absurd to suggest that a person has a right to counsel at trial and on appeal, but no right to counsel at a postconviction proceeding in the circuit court, which is often the precursor to an appeal. However, a defendant does not have the right to be represented by: 1) an attorney he or she cannot afford; 2) an attorney who is not willing to represent the defendant; 3) an attorney with a conflict of interest; or 4) an advocate who is not a member of the bar. State v. Peterson, 2008 WI App 140, 314 Wis. 2d 192, 757 N.W.2d 834, 07-1867.

The fact that a defendant was deemed competent to stand trial should not create a presumption that the defendant is competent at a later date when the same defendant pursues postconviction relief. State v. Daniel, 2015 WI 44, 362 Wis. 2d 74, 862 N.W.2d 867, 12-2692.

There is no statute directly governing postconviction competency proceedings, but courts will look to s. 971.14 for guidance. Once a defense attorney raises the issue of competency at a postconviction hearing, the burden is on the state to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is competent to proceed. State v. Daniel, 2015 WI 44, 362 Wis. 2d 74, 862 N.W.2d 867, 12-2692.

The court where an alleged ineffective assistance of counsel occurred is the proper forum in which to seek relief unless that forum is unable to provide the relief necessary to address the ineffectiveness claim. The remedy for an attorney's failure to file a notice of intent to pursue postconviction relief is an extension of the timeframe to file the notice. Because the circuit court is without authority to extend the deadline to file a notice of intent to pursue post conviction relief, the proper forum lies in the court of appeals. Kyles v. Pollard, 2014 WI 38, 354 Wis. 2d 626, 847 N.W.2d 805, 12-0378.

Before a circuit court can require a non-dangerous but incompetent defendant to be involuntarily treated to competency in the context of postconviction proceedings, the circuit court must follow the procedure established in Debra A.E., 188 Wis. 2d 111. Debra A.E. fashioned a mandatory process for managing postconviction relief of allegedly incompetent defendants. If this process is followed, a court order for treatment to restore competency will ordinarily be unnecessary because meaningful postconviction relief can be provided even though a defendant is incompetent. In this case, the circuit court acted prematurely by ordering that the defendant be medicated to competency without determining whether and to what extent postconviction proceedings could continue despite the defendant's incompetency. State v. Scott, 2018 WI 74, 382 Wis. 2d 476, 914 N.W.2d 141, 16-2017.

The decision to appeal. Kempinen, WBB August, 1985.

Sentence modification by Wisconsin trial courts. Kassel. 1985 WLR 195.

The decision to appeal a criminal conviction: Bridging the gap between the obligations of trial and appellate counsel. 1986 WLR 399.