Opinion ID: 2632557
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Strickland Test Generally

Text: The test for determining whether a defendant has received effective assistance of counsel is the two-part test established by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2063, 80 L.Ed.2d 674, 692 (1984); State v. Mathews, 133 Idaho 300, 306, 986 P.2d 323, 329 (1999). The first prong of the Strickland test requires the defendant to show that counsel's performance was deficient. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064, 80 L.Ed.2d at 693. The second prong requires the defendant to show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Id. In determining whether a defendant was deprived of reasonably competent assistance of counsel as guaranteed by the Idaho Constitution, article 1, section 13, Idaho courts employ the same two-part test. Mathews, 133 Idaho at 306, 986 P.2d at 329; Aragon v. State, 114 Idaho 758, 760-61, 760 P.2d 1174, 1176-77 (1988). Although Strickland concerned an allegation of ineffective assistance in a sentencing proceeding, the same standard applies equally to claims arising from the plea process. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. at 57-58, 106 S.Ct. at 369-370, 88 L.Ed.2d at 209-210; Mathews, 133 Idaho at 306, 986 P.2d at 329. Accordingly, we will consider each prong of the Strickland test as it applies to the present case.