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Cases and enforcement · Decided

State v. Loomis, 2016 WI 68, 881 N.W.2d 749 (Wis. 2016), No. 2015AP157-CR; cert. denied, No. 16-6387 (2017)

Verified Checked against its sources on 2 sources quoted

Court or authority
US – Wisconsin Supreme Court
Status
DECIDED: Wisconsin Supreme Court, July 13, 2016; U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari June 26, 2017
Filed
Opinion filed 2016-07-13
Resolved
June 26, 2017
Case type
Criminal law, Sentencing, Due process, Algorithmic risk assessment
Plaintiffs or complainants
State of Wisconsin (plaintiff-respondent)
Defendants
Eric L. Loomis (defendant-appellant)
Legal issues
Whether the use of a proprietary risk assessment tool (COMPAS) in sentencing violates due process rights; Whether reliance on group-based, secret methodology assessments can be individualized and accurate; Whether gender can be considered in risk assessments and sentencing; Effectiveness of procedural safeguards like advisements in mitigating risks of algorithmic assessments.

Summary

Eric Loomis challenged his La Crosse County sentence because the circuit court had considered a COMPAS risk assessment, a proprietary algorithmic tool whose methodology was not disclosed to him. On certification from the Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held on July 13, 2016, that a court's consideration of a COMPAS score at sentencing does not violate due process if it is used properly and within stated limits. The score cannot be the determinative factor, and presentence reports that include it must carry a written advisement warning of the tool's limitations, including its proprietary nature. The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on June 26, 2017.

Key dates

  1. July 13, 2016Filed
  2. June 26, 2017Resolved
  3. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
  4. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: October 16, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

  1. CASE NO.: 2015AP157-CR COMPLETE TITLE: State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Eric L. Loomis, Defendant-Appellant. ON CERTIFICATION FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OPINION FILED: July 13, 2016

    Supports: Parties, case number, decision date

    Ultimately, we conclude that if used properly, observing the limitations and cautions set forth herein, a circuit court's consideration of a COMPAS risk assessment at sentencing does not violate a defendant's right to due process.

    Supports: Holding

    State v. Loomis, 2016 WI 68, No. 2015AP157-CR Supreme Court of Wisconsin Primary source

  2. 16-6387 LOOMIS, ERIC L. V. WISCONSIN

    Supports: Listed under 'Certiorari Denied' on the June 26, 2017, order list

    Order List, Monday, June 26, 2017 (582 U.S.) Supreme Court of the United States Primary source

Suggested citation. Eminence Scan, “State v. Loomis, 2016 WI 68, 881 N.W.2d 749 (Wis. 2016), No. 2015AP157-CR; cert. denied, No. 16-6387 (2017)”, Eminence Growth Solutions, last verified October 16, 2026, https://eminencegrowthsolutions.com/tools/eminence-scan/record/case-045/.

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