Opinion ID: 789280
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard for Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Text: 36 The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees criminal defendants the right to effective assistance of counsel. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). A successful claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland requires the petitioner to make two showings. First, the petitioner must show that counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness as determined by prevailing professional norms. Id. at 687-88, 466 U.S. 668. Second, the petitioner must show that the deficient performance of counsel prejudiced his defense. Id. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Prejudice will be found when there is a reasonable probability that, but for the deficient performance of counsel, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the proceedings. Id.