Opinion
No. 01-2591-CR.
Oral Argument: January 21, 2003.
Opinion Filed: March 25, 2003.
APPEAL from an order of the Circuit Court for Milwaukee County, William D. Gardner, Judge. Order granting certification vacated and cause remanded to the Court of Appeals.
The court is equally divided on whether to affirm or reverse the judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee County. Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, and Justice David T. Prosser would affirm. Justice William A. Bablitch, Justice N. Patrick Crooks, and Justice Diane S. Sykes would reverse. Justice Jon P. Wilcox did not participate.
¶ 2. When a certification or bypass results in a tie vote by this court, the better course of action is to vacate our decision to accept certification or bypass and remand the cause to the court of appeals. State v. Watson, 209 Wis.2d 281, 562 N.W.2d 151 (1997) (remanding to court of appeals on a tie vote on certification); State v. Richard Knutson, Inc., 191 Wis.2d 395, 396-97, 528 N.W.2d 430 (1995).
¶ 3. Accordingly, we vacate our order granting certification and remand to the court of appeals.
By the Court. — The order granting certification is vacated and the cause is remanded to the court of appeals.