(1) No-merit report, response, and supplemental no-merit report.
(a) No-merit report. If an attorney appointed under s. 809.30 (2) (e) or ch. 977 concludes that a direct appeal on behalf of the person would be frivolous and without any arguable merit within the meaning of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and the person requests that a no-merit report be filed or declines to consent to have the attorney close the file without further representation by the attorney, the attorney shall file with the court of appeals 3 copies of a no-merit report. The no-merit report shall identify anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal and discuss the reasons why each identified issue lacks merit.
(b) Counseling and notification.
1. Prior to the filing of a no-merit report, the attorney shall discuss with the person all potential issues identified by the attorney and the person, and the merit of an appeal on these issues. The attorney shall inform the person that he or she has 3 options:
a. To have the attorney file a no-merit report;
b. To have the attorney close the file without an appeal; or
c. To have the attorney close the file and to proceed without an attorney or with another attorney retained at the person's expense.
2. The attorney shall inform the person that a no-merit report will be filed if the person either requests a no-merit report or does not consent to have the attorney close the file without further representation by the attorney. The attorney shall inform the person that if a no-merit report is filed the attorney will serve a copy of the transcripts and the circuit court case record upon the person at the person's request. The attorney shall inform the person that, if the person chooses to proceed with an appeal or chooses to have the attorney close the file without an appeal, the attorney will forward the attorney's copies of the transcripts and circuit court case record to the person at the person's request. The attorney shall also inform the person that the person may file a response to the no-merit report and that the attorney may file a supplemental no-merit report and affidavit or affidavits containing facts outside the record, possibly including confidential information, to rebut allegations made in the person's response to the no-merit report.
(c) Certification by attorney. The attorney shall append to the no-merit report a signed certification that the attorney has complied with the client-counseling and client-notification requirements of par. (b) . The certification shall be in the following form:
(d) Service of copy of no-merit report, transcript, and circuit court case record. The attorney shall serve a copy of the no-merit report on the person and shall file a statement in the court of appeals that service has been made upon the person. The attorney shall also serve upon the person a copy of the transcript and circuit court case record within 5 days after receipt of a request for the transcript and circuit court case record from the person and shall file a statement in the court of appeals that service has been made on the person.
(e) Response to no-merit report. The person may file a response to the no-merit report within 30 days after service of the no-merit report. If the person files a response, the clerk shall, within 5 days after the filing of the response, send a copy of the response to the attorney who filed the no-merit report.
(f) Supplemental no-merit report. If the attorney is aware of facts outside the record that rebut allegations made in the person's response, the attorney may file, within 30 days after receipt of the person's response, a supplemental no-merit report and an affidavit or affidavits, including matters outside the record. The supplemental report and affidavit or affidavits shall be served on the person, and the attorney shall file a statement in the court of appeals that service has been made upon the person.
(g) Remand for fact-finding prior to decision. If the person and the attorney allege disputed facts regarding matters outside the record, and if the court determines that the person's version of the facts, if true, would make resolution of the appeal under sub. (3) inappropriate, the court shall remand the case to the circuit court for an evidentiary hearing and fact-finding on those disputed facts before proceeding to a decision under sub. (3) .
(2) Notice of appeal, statement on transcript, service of copies. The attorney also shall file in circuit court a notice of appeal of the judgment of conviction or final adjudication and of any order denying a postconviction or postdisposition motion. The notice of appeal shall be identified as a no-merit notice of appeal and shall state the date on which the no-merit report is due and whether the due date is calculated under par. (a) or (b) . The clerk of circuit court shall transmit the record in the case to the court pursuant to s. 809.15 . The attorney also shall file a statement on transcript complying with the requirements of s. 809.11 (4) , except that copies of the transcript need not be provided to other parties. All papers filed with the court under this subsection, except the transcript, shall be served on the state in accordance with s. 809.80 (2) (b) and on any other party. The no-merit report, notice of appeal, and statement on transcript must be filed within whichever of the following is later:
(a) One hundred eighty days after the service upon the person of the transcript and circuit court case record requested under s. 809.30 (2) (e) .
(b) Sixty days after the entry of the order determining a postconviction or postdisposition motion.
(3) Decision on no-merit report. In the event that the court of appeals determines that further appellate proceedings would be frivolous and without any arguable merit, the court of appeals shall affirm the judgment of conviction or final adjudication and the denial of any postconviction or postdisposition motion and relieve the attorney of further responsibility in the case. The attorney shall advise the person of the right to file a petition for review to the supreme court under s. 809.62 .
(4) No-merit petition for review. If a fully briefed appeal is taken to the court of appeals and the attorney is of the opinion that a petition for review in the supreme court under s. 809.62 would be frivolous and without any arguable merit, the attorney shall advise the person of the reasons for this opinion and that the person has the right to file a petition for review. If requested by the person, the attorney shall file a petition satisfying the requirements of s. 809.62 (2) (d) and (f) and the person shall file a supplemental petition satisfying the requirements of s. 809.62 (2) (a) , (b) , (c) , and (e) . The petition and supplemental petition shall both be filed within 30 days after the date of the decision or order of the court of appeals. An opposing party may file a response to the petition and supplemental petition as provided in s. 809.62 (3) within 14 days after the service of the supplemental petition.