State v. Krysheski, 83-1009-CR

• Decision Date: 25 April 1984
• Docket Number: No. 83-1009-CR,83-1009-CR
• Citation: 349 N.W.2d 729,119 Wis.2d 84
• Parties: STATE of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Roger A. KRYSHESKI, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: Wisconsin Court of Appeals

Page 729

349 N.W.2d 729

119 Wis.2d 84

STATE of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Roger A. KRYSHESKI, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 83-1009-CR.

Court of Appeals of Wisconsin.

Submitted on Briefs Jan. 24, 1984.

Opinion Released April 25, 1984.

Opinion Filed April 25, 1984.

Donald T. Lang, Asst. State Public Defender, for defendant-appellant.

Bronson C. La Follette, Atty. Gen., and Marguerite M. Moeller, Asst. Atty. Gen., for plaintiff-respondent.

Before SCOTT, C.J., BROWN, P.J., and NETTESHEIM, J.

SCOTT, Chief Judge.

This is an appeal from that portion of an order denying a motion to vacate Roger A. Krysheski's judgment of conviction and subsequent sentence. The motion to vacate was filed because of Krysheski's death. The main issue is the effect of the defendant's death on a conviction when the death occurs while the defendant is pursuing post-conviction remedies under Rule 809.30, Stats. Because we find the judgment of conviction and sentence should have been abated, we reverse.

Following a jury trial, Krysheski was convicted of first-degree murder pursuant to sec. 940.01, Stats., and sentenced to life imprisonment. Krysheski's trial counsel, a state public defender, filed a timely motion for a new trial on April 4, 1983, which was scheduled to be heard on May 13, 1983. On April 7, 1983, Krysheski died unexpectedly of a heart attack. The public defender then filed a motion requesting vacation of the judgment of conviction and sentence and a dismissal of the motion for a new trial. The trial court dismissed the motion for a new trial as moot but refused to vacate the judgment of conviction and sentence. The public defender, on Krysheski's behalf, appeals from that portion of the order denying the motion to vacate the judgment of conviction and sentence.

Prior to addressing the merits of the appeal brought on Krysheski's behalf, we need first consider the State's argument that the appeal itself is improperly before this court. The State contends the public defender exceeded his authority in bringing this appeal. Implicit in this argument is the contention that the public defender was also without authority to bring the motion to vacate the conviction and sentence. The State's position is based on the rationale that Krysheski, being deceased, is not a "person" under the provisions of sec. 977.05(4)(j), Stats. ¹ Therefore, he is not eligible for legal representation at public expense and is unable to request representation for an appeal.

We do not reach this argument because we hold that the Attorney General has no standing in this criminal proceeding to challenge the public defender's authority. Chapter 977, Stats., entitled "State Public Defender," is a comprehensive legislative statement designed to provide legal representation to indigents in specified situations. The public defender's powers and duties are carefully spelled out. Only in sec. 977.07(3), Stats., ² providing for review of indigency determinations, does the legislature expressly allow court review of the public defender's authority at the criminal proceeding itself. The statute is silent as to other review of a public defender's authority during criminal proceedings. A statute which expresses one thing excludes all others. Where a form of conduct is designated, the inference arises that all omissions should be considered as exclusions. Gottlieb v. City of Milwaukee, 90 Wis.2d 86, 95, 279 N.W.2d 479, 483 (Ct.App.1979). We conclude that the legislature has limited any challenge to a public defender's authority which can be raised in a criminal proceeding to a challenge based on the defendant's indigency. Other challenges to a public defender's authority must be raised in a different proceeding. ³

As to the merits of this appeal, the public defender argues that a defendant's death pending resolution of post-conviction motions or an appeal of right requires abatement of all proceedings from inception of the prosecution. He argues the appropriate remedy is to dismiss the appeal and post-conviction motions and to vacate the judgment of conviction and sentence. We agree.

The right to appeal a criminal conviction is established by art. I, § 21 of the Wisconsin Constitution. Section 808.03(1), Stats., provides for an appeal of right from a final judgment or a final order of a circuit court. ⁴ The decision to appeal is so fundamental that it must be personally waived by the defendant. State v. Albright, 96 Wis.2d 122, 129-31, 291 N.W.2d 487, 490- 91, cert. denied, 449 U.S. 957, 101 S.Ct. 367, 66 L.Ed.2d 223 (1980). However, when a defendant dies pending appeal of his conviction, the issues surrounding that conviction become moot. A case is moot when the determination sought can have no practical effect on the controversy. State ex rel. McDonald v. Circuit Court for Douglas County, 100 Wis.2d 569, 572, 302 N.W.2d 462, 463 (1981). Because the defendant's death makes post-conviction relief meaningless, dismissal of post-conviction motions or of an appeal is appropriate.

The weight of authority in the federal system and other states provides, in this situation, not only for dismissal of post-conviction proceedings but also for abatement of all proceedings in the prosecution from its inception, including the conviction. Durham v. United States, 401 U.S. 481, 483, 91 S.Ct. 858, 860, 28 L.Ed.2d 200 (1971); ⁵ United States v. Oberlin, 718 F.2d 894, 895-96 (9th Cir.1983); United States v. Moehlenkamp, 557 F.2d 126, 128 (7th Cir.1977), and State v. Holbrook, 261 N.W.2d 480, 481 (Iowa 1978). Abatement of all proceedings is based on the recognition that a defendant pursuing an appeal of right has not yet received all of the safeguards of the judicial system. Death prior to appeal works a deprivation of a final determination of the case's merits. Because an appeal plays an integral part in our system for final adjudication of guilt or innocence, justice requires the abatement of a conviction where the merits of the appeal are left unresolved.

The State argues that abating all proceedings leaves an impression of the defendant's innocence, places the defendant's rights above the victim's rights, and thus undermines the integrity of the judicial system in the public's perception. We disagree. An abatement of proceedings is not a comment on a defendant's guilt or innocence. Rather, it is a return to the status quo before commencement of the case based on a determination to hold the case moot due to the futility of resolving the defendant's appeal. ⁶

We are persuaded by the federal approach to this unique problem and adopt it for Wisconsin. We hold that when a defendant dies pending an appeal of right all prior proceedings are to be abated. ⁷ We also adopt the federal procedure which requires dismissal of the appeal and post-conviction motions and remand of the case to the trial court with instructions to vacate the judgment and sentence and to dismiss the charges. See Oberlin, 718 F.2d at 895.

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