The following excerpt is from Fields v. Cal. Dep't of Corr. & Rehab., Case No. 1:18-cv-01545-DAD-JDP (E.D. Cal. 2020):
A doubly deferential standard governs a federal habeas petitioner's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The two-step inquiry from Strickland v. Washington guides the analysis for an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim. See 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). First, a criminal defendant must show some deficiency in performance by counsel that is "so serious that counsel was not functioning as the counsel guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment." Id. Second, the defendant must show that the deficient performance caused him prejudice. Id. This
Page 12
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.