State v. Ronald A. Hansford
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN Case No.: 97-0885-CR Complete Title of Case: State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Ronald A. Hansford, Defendant-Appellant. ON CERTIFICATION FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS Opinion Filed: Submitted on Briefs: Oral Argument: Source of APPEAL COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: June 19, 1998 May 27, 1998 Circuit Dane Patrick J. Fiedler JUSTICES: Concurred: Dissented: Not Participating: ATTORNEYS: For the defendant-appellant there were briefs and oral argument by Suzanne Hagopian, assistant state public defender. For the plaintiff-respondent the cause was argued by Sharon Ruhly, assistant attorney general, with whom on the briefs was James E. Doyle, attorney general. Amicus curiae brief was filed by Craig W. Albee and Shellow, Shellow & Glynn, S.C., Milwaukee for the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. No. 97-0885-CR NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 97-0885-CR STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT FILED State of Wisconsin, JUN 19, 1998 Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Marilyn L. Graves Clerk of Supreme Court Madison, WI Ronald A. Hansford, Defendant-Appellant. Appeal County, from Patrick a J. judgment of Fielder, the Judge. Circuit Court Reversed for and Dane caused remanded. ¶1 N. PATRICK CROOKS, J. This case is before the court on certification by the court of appeals, pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 809.61(1995-96).1 Wis. Stat. The issue certified to this court is whether § 756.096(3)(am),2 which provides for six-person juries in criminal misdemeanor cases, violates art. I, § 73 or 1 All references to the Wisconsin Statutes will be to the 1995-96 volume of the statutes unless otherwise noted. 2 Wisconsin Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) states: misdemeanor case shall consist of 6 persons." "A jury in a The legislature enacted Wis. Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) pursuant to 1995 Wisconsin Act 427. Although § 756.096(3)(am) has been repealed, the language providing for six-person juries in misdemeanor cases is still in effect and is now codified in Wis. Stat. § 756.06(2)(b) (1997-98). See WI Order 97-2 (S. Ct. Order 96-08). 3 Article I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution states: 1 No. 97-0885-CR art. I, § 54 of the Wisconsin Constitution. A second issue, which was not certified to this court but was raised by the Defendant in his brief to the court of appeals, is whether the circuit court committed reversible error in denying the Defendant's request for a jury instruction on a common law right to change his name, because the circuit court concluded that such right is not recognized in Wisconsin.5 ¶2 Upon § 756.096(3)(am) review, violates we conclude art. I, § 7 that of Wis. the Stat. Wisconsin Constitution which guarantees the right to a jury of 12 persons, as recognized by the common law as it existed at the time the Wisconsin Constitution was adopted. See Wis. Const. art. XIV, In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him; to meet the witnesses face to face; to have compulsory process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf; and in prosecutions by indictment, or information, to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district wherein the offense shall have been committed; which county or district shall have been previously ascertained by law. 4 Article I, § 5 of the Wisconsin Constitution states: The right to a jury trial shall remain inviolate, and shall extend to all cases at law without regard to the amount in controversy; but a jury trial may be waived by the parties in all cases in the manner prescribed by law. Provided, however, that the legislature may, from time to time, by statute, provide that a valid verdict, in civil cases, may be based on the votes of a specified number of the jury, not less than fivesixths thereof. 5 In our order accepting this case on certification from the court of appeals, we stated that "the appeal is accepted for consideration of all issues raised before the court of appeals." 2 No. 97-0885-CR § 13.6 Accordingly, we reverse the circuit court's convicting the Defendant of obstructing an officer. judgment We also reverse the Defendant's conviction for bail jumping, since it was premised solely upon the circuit court's finding that the jury found the Defendant guilty of obstructing an officer. Because we conclude that § 756.096(3)(am) violates art. I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution, it is not necessary for us to determine whether the circuit court committed reversible error by denying the Defendant's request regarding a common law name change. clarifying Wisconsin's common law, for a jury instruction However, for purposes of we further conclude that Wisconsin does recognize a common law right to change one's name through consistent and continuous use, as long as the change is not effected for a fraudulent purpose. I. ¶3 The facts relevant to our review are not in dispute. On June 21, 1996, the Defendant and Troy Ullman ("Ullman") had an altercation at a bar. As a result, Ullman called the Madison Police Department and filed a report. Eight days later, Ullman saw the Defendant at the same bar and again called the police. When the police officer arrived, Ullman pointed out the Defendant and informed the officer that the Defendant frequently used the name Bryan Storm. 6 The uniformed officer approached the Article XIV, § 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution states: Such parts of the common law as are now in force in the territory of Wisconsin, not inconsistent with this constitution, shall be and continue part of the law of this state until altered or suspended by the legislature. 3 No. 97-0885-CR Defendant and asked him whether he was Ronald Hansford. The Defendant The replied, "No," and said his name was Bryan. officer placed the Defendant under arrest, and repeatedly asked the Defendant his name. his name was Bryan The Defendant continued to state that Storm. The Defendant was subsequently transported to jail, where he was presented with a picture of Ronald Hansford. The Defendant acknowledged that it was a picture of himself, but did not state that his name was Ronald Hansford. At the time of his arrest, the Defendant had been previously released on bail for charges of theft and obstructing an officer pending in Dane County. ¶4 On July 1, 1996, the State of Wisconsin ("State") charged the Defendant with three Class A misdemeanor offenses: battery contrary to Wis. Stat. § 940.19(1); obstructing an officer contrary to Wis. Stat. § 946.41(1); and bail jumping contrary to Wis. Stat. § 946.49(1)(a). The Defendant filed a motion to sever the bail jumping charge from the charges of battery and obstructing. The circuit court denied the motion, and the Defendant thereafter waived his right to a trial by jury with regard to the bail jumping charge. ¶5 On October 14, 1996, the Defendant filed another motion, requesting that the battery and obstructing charges be tried to a jury of § 756.096(3)(am), misdemeanor Constitution. cases, 12 persons. which He mandates violates art. argued that six-person I, § 7 of Wis. juries the Stat. in Wisconsin Citing several Wisconsin Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals' decisions, including State ex rel. Sauk County Dist. Attorney v. Gollmar, 32 Wis. 2d 406, 409, 145 N.W.2d 670 (1966), 4 No. 97-0885-CR the Defendant asserted that the jury contemplated by the framers of the Wisconsin Constitution is a 12-person jury, and that the right to a trial by jury applies to criminal misdemeanor cases. ¶6 The circuit court denied the Defendant's motion, concluding that the Defendant had not proved that Wis. Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) is unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt. In its oral decision, the circuit court distinguished Gollmar, stating that the statutory provisions addressed in Gollmar were distinct, and that Gollmar reorganization in 1978. had been decided prior to court The circuit court further concluded that the Wisconsin Legislature has the authority to alter the required number of jurors in a misdemeanor case. ¶7 On October 15, 1996, the Defendant filed a proposed jury instruction on the common law right to change one's name by consistently and continuously using a new name.7 The proposed jury instruction was proffered as part of a theory of defense. The Defendant's 7 The text Defendant states: theory of of the defense jury was that instruction because he had requested by the Evidence has been received that the defendant has habitually and regularly used the name Bryan Storm. In Wisconsin, there are two ways to legally change one's name. First, an individual may petition a circuit court pursuant to the Wisconsin Statutes for an order changing his or her name. Second, an individual may effect a common law name change. A common law name change is effected without recourse to court order by simply adopting a new name and consistently and continuously using that name. In deciding whether the defendant in this case intentionally obstructed an officer in the performance of his duty, by informing the officer that his name was Bryan Storm, you may consider whether the defendant had lawfully changed his name to Bryan Storm under the common law by usage. Record on appeal 21:2. 5 No. 97-0885-CR changed his name in accord with the common law, he did not intentionally obstruct the officer in denying that he was Ronald Hansford and stating that his name was Bryan Storm. court denied the Defendant's request for the The circuit instruction, concluding that Wisconsin does not recognize a common law right to change one's name through consistent and continuous use.8 ¶8 tried to The charges of battery and obstructing an officer were a jury of six persons. The jury acquitted the Defendant of the battery charge, and convicted the Defendant of the obstructing charge. Subsequently, the circuit court convicted the Defendant of bail jumping, citing the Defendant's conviction for obstructing as violating the terms of his bond. ¶9 of The Defendant appealed his convictions on the charges obstructing and bail jumping, and this court accepted certification of the case from the court of appeals. II. A. ¶10 We first address the issue certified by the court of appeals: whether Wis. Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) violates art. I, § 7 or art. I, § 5 of the Wisconsin Constitution. Whether a statute violates the Wisconsin Constitution is a question of law, which we review de novo. See State v. Hall, 207 Wis. 2d 8 Specifically, the circuit court judge concluded "that there is no legal basis upon which to find that someone may effectuate a change in their name as proposed by the defense." Record on appeal 41:14. 6 No. 97-0885-CR 54, 67, 557 N.W.2d 778 (1997). Although we review questions of law de novo, we benefit from the analyses of the circuit court and the court of appeals.9 See Aiello v. Village of Pleasant Prairie, 206 Wis. 2d 68, 70, 556 N.W.2d 697 (1996). are afforded Association Wis. 2d a of 549, presumption State 557, of Prosecutors 544 N.W.2d 888 Statutes constitutionality. v. Milwaukee See 199 Therefore, (1996). County, the Defendant bears the burden of proving that § 756.096(3)(am) is unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt. ¶11 See id. We first consider the language of art. I, § 7 which states in part that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right . . . in prosecutions by indictment, or information, to jury . . . " under this attempt to To a speedy determine provision ascertain of public the the the trial Defendant's Wisconsin intent of by an impartial rights guaranteed Constitution, we must the of the framers constitution, as well as how the right to trial by jury was understood at common law, at the time the constitution was adopted.10 9 Although the court of appeals did not decide whether Wis. Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) violates the Wisconsin Constitution, it did provide this court with a limited analysis of the issue in its three-page certification to this court. 10 Article XIV, § 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution states that the common law at the time the constitution was adopted remains in force. Although the legislature has the authority to alter Wisconsin's common law, it may not do so contrary to the provisions set forth in the Wisconsin Constitution. See, e.g., Norval v. Rice, 2 Wis. 17, 23 (1853) ("[W]henever...the operation of the statute must cause a deprivation of a right secured by the Constitution, the courts have no alternativethe statute must yield."). 7 No. 97-0885-CR ¶12 The Wisconsin Constitution was adopted in 1848. Records from the constitutional conventions of 1846 and 1847-4811 contain almost no debate about the guarantee of the right to a trial by jury. The little debate there was centered around the guarantee of a jury trial as opposed to a trial to the court, rather than the requisite number of jurors.12 the number of jurors guaranteed by directly addressed. the Thus, the issue of constitution was not However, it was referenced by a delegate during a debate regarding whether art. I, § 5 should prohibit judges statute. from instructing juries other than as provided by In his speech to the convention, Charles H. Lakin, a delegate from Milwaukee, stated in part: 11 There were two constitutional conventions in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Constitution drafted at the 1846 convention did not receive the necessary votes for ratification. Thereafter, Governor Dodge called a special session of the legislature which met on October 18, 1847, and "[w]ithin ten days the body . . . decided upon apportionment for sixty-nine delegates who should be elected on November 29, and assemble at the capitol on December 15 to draw up a new constitution." Alice E. Smith, 1 The History of Wisconsin, From Exploration to Statehood, 667 (1985). The delegates of the 1847-48 convention drafted a new constitution. The new constitution was approved for ratification, and "on April 10 [1848] Governor Dodge proclaimed the adoption of a constitution for Wisconsin." Id. at 676. 12 In his speech to the members of the constitutional convention of 1847-48, Charles H. Lakin stated in part: By the proposed amendment, if adopted, the line will be distinctly drawn between the bench and the jury box. . . . I wish to reinstate the ancient trial by jury, assigning to it its original prerogative and opening a great gulf between it and the bench. . . . But what I complain of is that the prerogative of juries is swallowed up in the vortex of the bench. Journal of the Convention to form a Constitution for the State of Wisconsin, 122 (1848). 8 No. 97-0885-CR If it be the name of trial by jury that enamours you, you can get something that will do as well, perhaps better, than flesh, and blood, and bones. Erect within your temples of justice twelve hollow, graven, brazen images. Have them so constructed that they will cast an echo; and as the dicta of the bench shall be hurled at them, the same will be reflected back to record; and if you will, you may call this, trial by jury. Confident am I, that every freeman would like to be able to say to every usurper, "thus far shalt thou come, and when you step over the line which divides you from the jury box, you tread upon ground hallowed and rendered sacred by the genius of the constitution." Journal of the Convention to form a Constitution for the State of Wisconsin, 124 (1848) (emphasis in original). ¶13 The statements of Charles H. Lakin seem to indicate that the framers may have viewed the right to a trial by jury as the right to a jury of 12 persons. information conventions, elicited we seek from the guidance However, due to the limited debates from of the decisions constitutional of this court, particularly those decisions that were handed down shortly after the adoption of the Wisconsin Constitution. ¶14 Five years after the adoption of the Wisconsin Constitution, this court addressed the issue whether ch. 86, § 16 of the Revised Statutes, which provided for a six-person jury in civil actions, violated Wis. Const. art. I, § 5. Norval v. Rice, 2 Wis. 17 (1853). See This court determined that the right to a jury trial is the right as recognized by common law at the time the constitution was adopted. See id at 20. In ascertaining the right at common law, this court cited numerous authorities, all of which construed the right to a jury trial as the right to a trial by a jury of 12 persons: 9 No. 97-0885-CR Lord Coke . . . says: "Of these, a trial by twelve men is the most frequent and common. . . . [I]t seemeth to me that the law in this case delighteth herself in the number of twelve; for there must . . . be twelve jurors for the trial of matters of fact." . . . [A]lso, in Blackstone's Commentaries, vol. 3, p. 351, it is said in relation to the ordinary trial by jury after issue joined, "the court awards a writ . . . commanding the sheriff that he cause to come here on such a day, twelve free and lawful men . . . ." "[W]hat greater security can any person have in his life, liberty or estate, than to be sure of not being divested of, or injured in any of these, without the sense of verdict of twelve honest and impartial men of his neighborhood? And hence we find the common law herein confirmed by Magna Charta." Bacon's Ab., Title "Juries" vol. 5, p. 308. . . . In the third volume of his Lectures on the Law of England, p. 199, Professor Woodesson says of trial by jury: "Where no challenge is taken either to the whole array, or to the jurors individually, twelve of them are sworn to 'well and truly try the issue joined between the parties,'" &c. Sir Matthew Hale says (2 Hale's P.C. 161): "But in case of a trial by the petit jury, it can be by no more nor less than twelve;" . . . "The petit jury when sworn, must consist precisely of twelve, and is never to be either more or less on the trial of the general issue." 1 Chitty's C.L. 505. "From the earliest period of the common law, the term jury has had a technical and specific meaning, and has ever signified 'a body of twelve citizens . . . .'" Id. at 20-22 (emphasis in original). Based upon these authorities, the Norval court concluded that right to a trial by jury guaranteed by the Wisconsin Constitution is the right to a jury of 12 persons as recognized by the common law as it existed at the time the constitution was adopted: 10 No. 97-0885-CR In our view of the provisions of the Revised Statutes concerning County Courts, where they restrict the jury to six persons, they conflict with the enjoyment of a constitutional right, secured to every citizen, namely, the right of trial by a jury of twelve men; and we therefore hold, that when the defendant in the court below was denied a trial by a jury consisting of twelve men, he was deprived of a right secured to him by the Constitution. Id. at 23 (emphasis in original). ¶15 The discussion of the right to trial by jury in Norval is particularly significant given the make-up of the Wisconsin Supreme Court at the time the decision was rendered. In 1853, the year that Norval was written, Edward V. Whiton was the Chief Justice of the court. Although the majority opinion was authored by Justice Samuel Crawford, Chief Justice Whiton, who joined the unanimous decision, had substantial insight into the intent of the framers of the Wisconsin Constitution. Chief Justice Whiton was Janesville, Wisconsin. an attorney In 1847, practicing law See Journal of the Convention to form a Constitution for the State of Wisconsin, 18-19 (1848). also a delegate at the Wisconsin Constitution. ¶16 Several in years 1847-48 convention to He was re-draft the See id. after Norval was decided, this court concluded that the right to a trial by jury was guaranteed to defendants in criminal cases under art. I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution. See Bennett v. State, 57 Wis. 69, 14 N.W.2d 912 (1883). This court rejected an argument made by Bennett that art. § 5 I, trial. secured a criminal defendant's right to a jury However, this court determined that art. I, § 7 secured such a right, that right being a jury of 12 persons: 11 No. 97-0885-CR It may be assumed that this section [art. I, § 7] secures to the accused in all criminal prosecutions a right of trial by jury, and that the jury mentioned in said section means a jury of twelve impartial men,such a jury as was known to the common law and to the court of the territory of Wisconsin before the state was organized. at Id. 75 (citations omitted) (emphasis in original). Subsequently, this court reaffirmed its holding in Bennett that art. I, § 7 guarantees the right to a 12-person jury in criminal trials. See, e.g., In re Staff, 63 Wis. 285, 295, 23 N.W. 587 (1885)(A criminal defendant "is entitled to be tried by a jury, that is, qualified a common-law jury, jurors . . . ."); which must Jennings v. consist State, of 134 twelve Wis. 307, 309, 114 N.W. 492 (1908) ("It is unquestioned that a common-law jury of twelve jurors constitutes the jury contemplated by the constitution."). ¶17 Finally, in Gollmar, 32 Wis. 2d 406, this court considered the issue of whether an individual charged with a misdemeanor offense could obtain a six-person jury trial without the consent of the State. Although Gollmar involved the issue of waiver, in its discussion, this court recognized that the right to a jury trial is the right to a jury of 12-persons. id. at 409. This court also cited its previous See decisions concluding that the right to a jury trial guaranteed by art. I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution extends to defendants charged with misdemeanors as well as felonies. State v. Lockwood, 43 Wis. 403 See id. at 410 (citing (1877); State v. Smith, 184 Wis. 664, 200 N.W. 638 (1924); State v. Slowe, 230 Wis. 406, 284 N.W. 4 (1939)). 12 No. 97-0885-CR ¶18 In Lockwood, 43 Wis. at 403, the State filed an information charging the defendant with a misdemeanor offense. This court concluded that in a criminal misdemeanor case, "[t]he right to crime, trial is by secured jury, by upon the information or indictment constitution . . . ." Id. at for 405. Although the current practice is to charge misdemeanor offenses by summons or warrant and complaint, without indictment or information, we are persuaded that there is a present-day right to a jury trial in misdemeanor cases. allow a defendant's discretion of the constitutional charging body, To hold otherwise would rights to and/or the hinge upon the often-changing judicially and legislatively created pleading procedures. ¶19 In conclusion, the information from the constitutional conventions, as well as this court's decisions in Norval, Bennett, Staff, Jennings, Gollmar,13 and the authorities cited therein, lead us to conclude that a criminal defendant's right to a trial by jury as guaranteed by art. I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution, is the right to a jury of 12 persons. In addition, the decisions in Lockwood, Smith, Slowe, and Gollmar lead us to conclude that the right to a 12-person jury extends to all criminal defendants, regardless of whether they are charged with misdemeanor or felony offenses. ¶20 Our analysis is not altered by the United States Supreme Court's decision in Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78 (1970). In Williams, the Supreme Court concluded that the Dade 13 We are not persuaded by the circuit court's attempt to distinguish State ex rel. Sauk County District Attorney v. Gollmar, 32 Wis. 2d 406, 145 N.W.2d 670 (1966), based upon the statutory provisions existing at that time and the fact that Gollmar was decided prior to the court reorganization of 1978. 13 No. 97-0885-CR County Criminal Court's refusal to impanel a jury of more than six persons did not violate the criminal defendant's rights to a trial by jury guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, Amendment. common law as applied through the Fourteenth The Supreme Court reasoned that, although juries at generally consisted of 12 members, there is "absolutely no indication" that the framers of the United States Constitution intended to "equate the constitutional and commonlaw characteristics of the jury." Id. at 98-100. Rather, the Supreme Court analyzed the particular functions and purposes of a jury and concluded that the 12-person requirement for a jury trial is not Amendment." ¶21 Williams "an indispensable component of the Sixth Id. at 100.14 We decline to extend the Supreme Court's reasoning in to the Defendant's state 14 constitutional argument in Since its decision in Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78 (1970), the United States Supreme Court has held that the right to a jury trial guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution must be a trial by a jury of at least six persons. See Ballew v. Georgia, 435 U.S. 223 (1978) (emphasis supplied). 14 No. 97-0885-CR this case.15 Although Williams is binding authority regarding challenges to Fourteenth Amendments recognize that six-person the to juries the Wisconsin premised United upon States Constitution the Sixth Constitution, may afford protection than the United States Constitution. Doe 78 Wis. 2d 161, 171, 254 N.W.2d 210 (1977). and we greater See State v. The history surrounding the adoption of the Wisconsin Constitution, and the long-standing precedent of this court interpreting the meaning of the right to trial by jury under our constitution, satisfy us that the Defendant has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that 15 Notwithstanding the United States Supreme Court's decision in Williams, several states still provide criminal defendants who are charged with misdemeanor offenses the right to a jury of 12-persons, either through statutory provisions, rules of criminal procedure, or state constitutions. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 12-16-100 (1995), Ala. R. Crim. P. 18.4; Alaska R. Crim. P. 23; Ark. Code Ann. § 16-32-203(Michie Supp. 1997); Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 220 (West Supp. 1998); Del. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 23; Haw. Rev. Stat. § 635-26, 806-60 (1993); 725 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/115-4 (West 1996); Me. R. Crim. P. 23; Md. Rule 4-311; Mich. Comp. Laws § 768.18(1979); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 543.210 (1994); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:23-1 (West Supp. 1998); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1201 (1997); Pa. Const. art. I, § 6; R.I. Super. Ct. R. Crim. P. 23; S.C. R. Crim. P. 14; S.D. Codified Laws § 23A18-2 (1988); Vt. R. Crim. P. 23; Wash. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 6.1; W. Va. R. Crim. P. 23. 15 No. 97-0885-CR Wis. Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) violates art. I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution.16 ¶22 jury Because the Defendant was not afforded the right to a of 12 Wisconsin persons, as Constitution, guaranteed his by art. conviction for I, § 7 of the obstructing an officer must be reversed and the cause remanded to the circuit court. In addition, the Defendant's conviction for bail jumping must also be reversed and the cause remanded. ¶23 At the time of his arrest for battery and obstructing, the Defendant had previously been released on bond for other offenses. One of the terms of the Defendant's bond stated: "You shall not commit Therefore, in any addition crime."17 to the Record charges on for appeal 42:8. battery and obstructing an officer in this case, the Defendant was charged with bail jumping contrary to Wis. Stat. § 946.49. 16 Because we conclude that Wis. Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) violates art. I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution, it is unnecessary for us to consider whether § 756.096(3)(am) also violates art. I, § 5 of the Wisconsin Constitution. Furthermore, we note that the Defendant did not argue a violation of art. I, § 5 to the circuit court. Although the court of appeals' certification of the issue to this court was premised upon both art. I, § 7 and art. I, § 5, the Defendant's sole argument to the circuit court was that his right to a jury of 12 persons is "guaranteed by Article I, § 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution." Record on appeal 16:2. This court has often stated that we generally will not consider issues raised for the first time on appeal. See State v. Holland Plastics Co., 111 Wis. 2d 497, 504, 331 N.W.2d 320 (1983). 17 Wisconsin Stat. § 939.12 defines a crime as: conduct which is prohibited by state law and punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. Conduct punishable only by a forfeiture is not a crime. 16 No. 97-0885-CR ¶24 The Defendant waived his right to a jury trial with regard to the bail jumping charge; therefore, the constitutional guarantees under art. I, § 7 of the right to a jury trial are not implicated. determine supports if the Rather, we review the charge of bail jumping to the evidence conviction. presented We "may at not the circuit reverse a court conviction unless the evidence, viewed most favorably to the state and the conviction, is so insufficient in probative value and force that it can be said as a matter of law that no trier of fact, acting reasonably, could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." State v. Poellinger, 153 Wis. 2d 493, 501, 451 N.W.2d 752 (1990). ¶25 There are three elements conviction of bail jumping: that must be met for a (1) the individual must have been arrested for, or charged with, a felony or misdemeanor; (2) the individual must be released from custody on bond; and (3) the individual must have intentionally failed to comply with the terms of his or her bond. See State v. Dawson, 195 Wis. 2d 161, 170-71, 536 N.W.2d 119 (Ct. App. 1995); see also Wis JI-Criminal 1795 (Rel. No. 3412/95). parties stipulated that the At the circuit court trial, the Defendant had been previously charged with a misdemeanor offense, and that the Defendant had been released on bond. See Record on appeal 42:3. In finding that the State had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant intentionally failed to comply with the terms of his bond, the circuit court noted only that "a jury has found beyond a reasonable doubt that . . . the defendant committed the crime of obstructing." Record on appeal 42:9. 17 No. 97-0885-CR ¶26 Because the bail jumping conviction was premised solely upon the Defendant's obstructing conviction, which we now reverse, the bail jumping conviction must also be reversed. Absent a finding that the Defendant committed a crime, the State has not proved beyond a reasonable doubt an element of the bail jumping chargethat the Defendant intentionally failed to comply with the term of his bond prohibiting criminal activity. Wis. Stat. § 946.49(1). See The State must prove each element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt before a Defendant may be found guilty. See Poellinger, 153 Wis. 2d Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364 (1970)). at 501 (citing In re Because we are reversing the Defendant's conviction for obstructing, we conclude as a matter of law that the evidence, viewed most favorably to the State, does jumping. not See support the Defendant's conviction Poellinger, 153 Wis. 2d at 501. for bail Accordingly, we reverse the Defendant's conviction for bail jumping. B. ¶27 Wis. We conclude that Wis. Stat. § 756.096(3)(am) violates Const. Defendant's jumping. art. I, convictions § 7 and, for Accordingly, it therefore, obstructing is unnecessary an we reverse officer for us to and the bail consider whether the circuit court committed reversible error in denying the Defendant's request for a jury instruction on the common law right to change one's name. Denial of the Defendant's request was based upon the circuit court's belief that Wisconsin does not recognize such a right. We address the issue only to the extent necessary to clarify that Wisconsin does recognize the 18 No. 97-0885-CR common law right to change one's name through consistent and continuous use, as long as the change is not effected for a fraudulent purpose. ¶28 Whether Wisconsin recognizes the common law right to change one's name is a question of law. As stated, this court reviews questions of law de novo, benefitting from the analysis of the circuit court.18 ¶29 See Aiello, 206 Wis. 2d at 70. The circuit court denied the Defendant's request for a jury instruction on the common law right to change one's name, reasoning that Wisconsin does not recognize such a right. Specifically, the circuit court stated that there are only two avenues by which an individual may change his or her name: (1) by marriage or divorce; or (2) by court order pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 786.36 which states in part: Any resident of this state, whether a minor or adult, may upon petition to the circuit court of the county where he or she resides and upon filing a copy of the notice, with proof of publication, as required by s. 786.37, if no sufficient cause is shown to the contrary, have his or her name changed or established by order of the court. . . . Any change of name other than as authorized by law is void. We disagree with the circuit court. mentioned methods available to In addition to the above- change common law recognizes a third method: 18 one's name, Wisconsin changing one's name The court of appeals did not address or certify to this court the issue whether the circuit court committed reversible error by failing to instruct the jury on the common-law right to change one's name, absent a fraudulent purpose. However, the order from this court accepting certification stated that all issues raised on appeal would be addressed. 19 No. 97-0885-CR through consistent and continuous use, as long as the change is not effected for a fraudulent purpose.19 ¶30 In Kruzel v. Podell, 67 Wis. 2d 138, 140, 226 N.W.2d 458 (1975), the issue presented was "whether upon marriage a woman is required by law to assume the surname of her husband." In answering the question in the negative, this court determined that the Wisconsin Statutes did not require that a woman change her name upon marriage. Rather, it concluded that a woman's change of surname is generally effected by continuous use of her husband's surname: [I]n accordance with the common law of this state, as frequently explained by the attorney general, a change of name results from marriage only if, in accordance with common-law principles, the surname of a married woman's husband is habitually used by her. . . . This is no more than the recognition of a common-law rule that a person could change his name if it was not done for the purpose of fraud. Id. at 150-51. ¶31 As stated in Kruzel, several opinions of the attorney general support the conclusion that a common law right to change one's name is recognized in Wisconsin. At common law it was the rule that in the absence of statutory restriction, and where it is not done for a fraudulent purpose, one could lawfully change his name at will without proceedings of any sort, merely by adopting another name, and for all purposes the name thus assumed would constitute his legal name just as much as if he had borne it from birth. 19 R. C. L. 1332; 45 C. J. 381-382; L. R.A. 1915D 982. . . . 19 In its brief to this court and at oral argument, the State conceded that Wisconsin recognizes a common law right to change one's name. 20 No. 97-0885-CR It should be noted, however, that while applications under the statutes are encouraged in order that there may be a record of the change in name, in the absence of an express provision making the statutory method exclusive, it is held that such statutes do not abrogate the common law right of an individual to change his name without application to the courts. 45 C.J. 382. See also 21 Wis. 20 Wis. Op. Att'y Gen. 627, 628, 630 (1931). Op. Att'y Gen. 528, 529 (1932)("Hence, we find that at common law a man might change his name as radically and as often as he desired, if for an honest purpose and not to the injury of third persons."); 35 Wis. Op. Att'y Gen. 178, 179 (1946)(Recognizing the "inherent right of a person to change his name in the absence of a provision making the statutory method exclusive."). ¶32 The language of Wis. Stat. § 786.36 does not state that petition to the circuit court for an order is the exclusive method of changing a person's name. Section 786.36 merely sets forth a detailed method of changing a name through court order. The section does state that "[a]ny change of name other than that authorized by law is void;" however, it does not state that § 786.36 is the exclusive method recognized by law. ¶33 common This law court right has to previously change one's stated name, that absent purpose. See Kruzel, 67 Wis. 2d at 150-51. right therefore is consistent with Wis. a method Stat. "authorized § 786.36. by there a is a fraudulent This common law law" Therefore, which is absent a fraudulent purpose, an individual in Wisconsin has the common law right to change his or her consistent use. III. 21 name through continuous and No. 97-0885-CR ¶34 In summary, § 756.096(3)(am), misdemeanor we conclude providing cases, violates for art. that Wis. six-person I, § 7 of Stat. juries the in Wisconsin Constitution which guarantees the right to a jury of 12 persons, as recognized by the common law as it existed at the time the Wisconsin Constitution was adopted. The long-standing precedent of this court interpreting the right to trial by jury under our constitution thoroughly supports this conclusion. we reverse the Defendant's convictions for Accordingly, obstructing an officer and bail jumping and remand the case to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We further conclude that a common law right to change one's name through consistent Wisconsin, as long and as continuous the change use is is not recognized effected for in a fraudulent purpose. By the Court. The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. 22
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
