State v. Chosa

The issues in this case are:(1) Did the trial court violate defendant-appellant-petitioner’s rights to equal protection of the law in excusing for cause all Native Americans from the jury panel without objection by defense counsel?'(2) Was the defendant denied his right to the effective assistance of counsel ?

The court of appeals answered both questions in the negative and affirmed the circuit court for Vilas County, the Honorable Robert H. Gollmar, Reserve Judge, presiding.

In the early morning hours of June 8, 1975, Ben Chosa, Jr. (defendant), a Chippewa Indian, shot and killed his…