What is the burden of proving ineffective assistance of trial counsel by failing to interpose an objection during the prosecutor's closing argument?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from The People v. Lomax, F058346, Super. Ct. No. BF123002A (Cal. App. 2010):

Defendant nevertheless contends his trial counsel was ineffective by failing to interpose such an objection during the prosecutor's closing argument. The defendant has the burden of proving ineffective assistance of trial counsel. To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, the defendant must establish not only deficient performance, which is performance below an objective standard of reasonableness, but also prejudice. A court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Tactical errors are generally not deemed reversible. Counsel's decisionmaking is evaluated in the context of the available facts. To the extent the record fails to disclose why counsel acted or failed to act in the manner challenged, appellate courts will affirm the judgment unless counsel was asked for an explanation and failed to provide one or unless there simply could be no satisfactory explanation. Prejudice must be affirmatively proved. The record must affirmatively demonstrate a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. (People v. Maury (2003) 30 Cal.4th 342, 389.) "Reversals for ineffective assistance of counsel during closing argument rarely occur; when they do, it is due to an argument against the client which

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