Summary 2012 WY 137

Summary of Decision October 30, 2012

Judge Campbell delivered the opinion for the Court. Affirmed.

Case Name: LUKE EDWARD MICKELSON v. THE STATE OF WYOMING

Docket Number: S-11-0285

URL: http://www.courts.state.wy.us/Opinions.aspx

Appeal from the District Court of Albany County, Honorable Wade D. Waldrip, Judge.

Representing Appellant: Diane Lozano, State Public Defender; Tina N. Olson, Chief Appellate Counsel; David Westling, Appellate Counsel; Wyoming Public Defender Program. Argument by Mr. Westling.

Representing Appellee: Gregory A. Phillips, Wyoming Attorney General; David L. Delicath, Deputy Attorney General; D. Michael Pauling, Senior Assistant Attorney General; Jeffrey Pope, Assistant Attorney General. Argument by Mr. Pope.

Date of Decision: October 30, 2012

Facts: Luke Edward Mickelson appealed his conviction for unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, contending the Court improperly admitted lay opinion testimony concerning Mr. Mickelson’s level of intoxication, and that he was denied effective assistance of counsel.

Issues: Mr. Mickelson presented two issues for this Court’s consideration:

I. Was trial defense counsel ineffective?

II. Did the testimony of two bartenders about intoxication invade the province of the trier of fact?

Holdings: The testimony of Ms. Tonille and Mr. Groshart regarding Mr. Mickelson’s level of intoxication was properly admitted and considered by the trial court. Further, Mr. Mickelson was not denied effective assistance of trial counsel, and his conviction was affirmed.

Summaries are prepared by Law Librarians and are not official statements of the Wyoming Supreme Court

[SPECIAL NOTE: This opinion uses the "Universal Citation." It was given an "official" citation when it was issued. You should use this citation whenever you cite the opinion, with a P.3d parallel citation. You will also note when you look at the opinion that all of the paragraphs are numbered. When you need to provide a pinpoint citation to a quote the universal portion of the citation will use that paragraph number. The pinpoint citation in the P.3d portion will need to have the reporter page number. If you need assistance in putting together a citation from this, or any future opinion using the Universal Citation form, please contact the Wyoming State Law Library and we will provide any needed assistance]