Does prior counsel's cross-examination of witnesses or handling of evidence at the preliminary examination constitute improper conduct?

(b) Items number 3, 4, 14, 16, and 17 address prior counsel's cross-examination of witnesses or handling of evidence at the preliminary examination. Trial counsel's limited cross-examination at a preliminary hearing may be a tactic to defer the real effort to the trial itself. (People v. Gibbs (1967) 255 Cal.App.2d 739, 744.) The reason for this deference is trial counsel may have had a rational tactical reason for his cross-examination technique at the preliminary hearing.