California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. McDonald, G041075 (Cal. App. 6/30/2009), G040058., G041075. (Cal. App. 2009):
The standard of review for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is set out above. We repeat that "`[r]eviewing courts defer to counsel's reasonable tactical decisions in examining a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel [citation], and there is a "strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance."' [Citations.]" (People v. Weaver, supra, 26 Cal.4th at pp. 925-926.) However, "counsel's alleged tactical decisions must be subjected to `meaningful scrutiny.' [Citation.] Tactical decisions must be informed, so that before counsel acts, he or she `"will make a rational and informed decision on strategy and tactics founded on adequate investigation an preparation."' [Citations.]" (In re Lucas (2004) 33 Cal. 4th 682, 722.)
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