Can counsel make a tactical decision not to object to an argument that the jury would not be reasonably likely to misunderstand?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Johnson, B279405 (Cal. App. 2018):

We cannot conclude counsel was ineffective on this record. Counsel had no obligation to make a meritless objection. And a tactical decision not to object to an argument that the jury would not be reasonably likely to misunderstand falls within the range of reasonable professional assistance. (People v. Weaver (2001) 26 Cal.4th 876, 925 ["'[r]eviewing courts defer to counsel's reasonable

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tactical decisions in examining a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel'"].)

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